A Historic Response After Game 1 Loss
Oklahoma City didn’t just bounce back — they made history.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points in just three quarters as the Thunder obliterated the Denver Nuggets 149-106 on Wednesday night to even their Western Conference semifinal series at one game apiece.
It was a response that rewrote the playoff record books.
Record-Breaking First Half
The Thunder exploded for 87 points in the first half, breaking the NBA playoff record for most points in a half. The previous high — 86 by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017 Finals — was erased when Chet Holmgren sank two free throws with one second left in the second quarter.
Halftime score: Thunder 87, Nuggets 56.
They also matched the all-time mark for points in any half of a playoff game, set by the Bucks in 1978 — also against Denver.
Clinical from the Start
Gilgeous-Alexander was nearly perfect:
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11-of-13 from the field
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11-of-11 from the free throw line
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8 assists
OKC shot over 71% in the first quarter alone, racking up 45 points — the most ever by the franchise in a playoff quarter. By the end of three, the Thunder led 124-76 and had ballooned the margin to as many as 49 points.
Eight Thunder players scored in double figures as they became the first team in NBA history with multiple 40-point wins in a single postseason, after a 51-point rout of Memphis in Round 1.
Nuggets Collapse Under Pressure
Nikola Jokic, dominant in Game 1, struggled with just 17 points and eight rebounds before fouling out late in the third quarter. Russell Westbrook — initially cheered in his OKC return — was booed, drew a technical, and finished with 19 points in a tense night for Denver.
The Nuggets simply had no answers on either end. Their offensive flow disappeared under Oklahoma City’s swarming defense, while their transition defense was repeatedly exposed.
Thunder Statement
The energy, ball movement, and finishing were on another level. A thunderous alley-oop from Gilgeous-Alexander to Jalen Williams at 78-43 was a perfect symbol of the night: aggressive, electric, and dominant.
What’s Next
Game 3 heads to Denver on Friday — but the Thunder sent a clear message in Game 2.
They’re not just here to compete. They’re here to rewrite history.
