Thunder’s Victory Roars in Season Opener: Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren Lead the Charge
Dynamic Duo Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren Propel Thunder to Triumph Over Nuggets
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren drove the Oklahoma City Thunder to victory against the Denver Nuggets, with impressive scores of 28 and 25 points respectively. The game, played on Thursday night, marked a thrilling start to the season for both NBA teams. Standing out as a formidable force, Holmgren demonstrated his versatility with a robust performance on both ends of the court.
Holmgren Dazzles with All-round Performance
Holmgren’s performance was a standout, matching his career-best with 14 rebounds, while contributing with five assists and four impressive blocks. Aaron Wiggins, coming off the bench, chipped in with 15 points for the Thunder. This divisional game bore significant importance, as both the Thunder and the Nuggets ended last season with an identical 57-25 record. However, the Thunder secured the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, courtesy of a tiebreaker.
The Nuggets Struggle Despite Jokic’s Triple-Double
Nuggets’ reigning NBA MVP, Nikola Jokic, managed a triple-double with 16 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds. However, his efforts didn’t translate into a win for Denver. Jamal Murray, Jokic’s fellow guard, struggled with his shooting, managing only 12 points on 4-of-14 from the field. Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon, who recently signed a contract extension, each scored 16 and 12 points respectively. The Nuggets had a difficult time behind the arc, making only 7 out of their 39 attempts.
Key Takeaways: Thunder’s Dominance and Nuggets’ Tributes
Holmgren showcased his dynamic ability during the third quarter when he blocked a shot by Jokic, swiftly transitioned down the court, received a pass, and delivered a thunderous dunk. The Thunder’s bench outperformed the Nuggets’, contributing 25 points to Denver’s 16. Russell Westbrook, the newly added Nugget, had a tough night, scoring only six points on 2-of-10 shooting.
Before the game, the Denver team paid homage to the late Dikembe Mutombo by donning T-shirts featuring his renowned finger wag. The team also played a video tribute celebrating his life and accomplishments, both on and off the court, which was met with a standing ovation that lasted 55 seconds, in honor of his jersey number. Mutombo passed away last month at the age of 58 from brain cancer.
Thunder’s Youthful Roster and What’s Next
The Thunder began the regular season with the youngest roster in the NBA, boasting an average age of 24 years and 148 days. Looking ahead, the Thunder will face the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night, while the Nuggets will host the Los Angeles Clippers the same evening.