Gilgeous-Alexander's triple-double leads Thunder past Denver

Updated Dec. 22, 2021 10:42 p.m. ET

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had his second career triple-double with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Denver Nuggets 108-94 on Wednesday night.

Gilgeous-Alexander had the first triple-double by a Thunder player at home since Russell Westbrook in the 2018-19 season.

Darius Bazley had 17 points and 11 rebounds, Lu Dort had 15 points and rookie Jeremiah Robinson-Earl added 14 points and nine rebounds for the Thunder. Oklahoma City claimed its largest margin of victory this season and improved to 5-3 since a 73-point loss at Memphis on Dec. 2.

Nikola Jokic had 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists for the Nuggets. The reigning league MVP entered the game averaging 26.3 points, 13.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists.

Denver had won three of four, but hadn’t played since Dec. 17. The Nuggets' game against the Brooklyn Nets scheduled for Dec. 19 was postponed because the Nets didn’t have enough available players due to health and safety protocols and injuries.

Gilgeous-Alexander had nine points and two assists in the final four minutes of the first half to help the Thunder take a 60-52 lead. He had 19 points at the break. Jokic and Aaron Gordon each scored 10 points for the Nuggets.

The Thunder extended their lead to 16 points on a 3-pointer by Dort with just under five minutes left in the third quarter. A 3-pointer by Josh Giddey pushed Oklahoma City's lead to 21. The Thunder led 88-66 at the end of the period.

Denver cut its deficit in the fourth with Jokic, Gordon and the other starters out of the lineup, but never got closer than eight points in the final period.

TIP-INS

Nuggets: Rookie guard Bones Hyland limped off the court in the second quarter, and returned in the third. He finished with five points on 2-for-7 shooting. He was coming off a career-high 24 points against Atlanta. ... Forward JaMychal Green played after missing the previous three games with an ankle injury. He had three points and seven rebounds.

Thunder: Mike Muscala, one of Oklahoma City’s most steady players this season, rested. ... Held the Nuggets to 27% shooting in the first quarter to take a 28-18 lead. ... Gilgeous-Alexander scored 11 points in the second quarter.

UP NEXT

Nuggets: Host the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday.

Thunder: Visit the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

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