Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put on a show Sunday, powering the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder to a dominant 127-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets. He racked up 40 points and eight assists but chose not to spotlight his MVP candidacy. Instead, when asked about Nikola Jokic—a fellow contender for the award—Gilgeous-Alexander shifted the focus elsewhere.
“It’s something to talk about. It’s entertainment — that’s part of the sport. It’s an honor to be in the conversation itself. It’s been really fun.” the Thunder’s MVP-candidate said after overpowering the Nuggets.
The Thunder keep piling up victories, securing their seventh consecutive win by taking down the Nuggets. Though both teams rank among the West’s best, the gap between them is striking. With the win, Oklahoma City advanced to 53-11, while Denver slipped to 41-23, widening the Thunder’s lead to 12 games.
“Most of the appreciation comes from my teammates. No matter how good of a player I am, if we don’t check the win column as much as we do, the conversation wouldn’t be a conversation,” Shai-Gilgeous Alexander continued.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander too much for Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets
Jokic and the Nuggets struggled to keep pace with the Thunder, but the star center still delivered an impressive stat line. He finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists, following up his extraordinary performance on Friday against the Suns, where he posted 31 points, 22 assists, and 21 rebounds in Denver’s 149-141 overtime victory.
The Thunder ultimately cruised to a 24-point win, but the Nuggets remained competitive through three quarters. Oklahoma City held just a three-point lead entering the fourth, but Gilgeous-Alexander and his squad pulled away in dominant fashion, outscoring Denver 41-20 in the final period. Jalen Williams played a key role alongside Gilgeous-Alexander, contributing 26 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the NBA in scoring this season, averaging 32.8 points per game while shooting 52.6% from the field and 89.8% from the free-throw line.
Jokic ranks third in scoring, averaging 28.9 points per game while shooting 57.7% from the field. He is also averaging a triple-double with 12.9 rebounds and 10.6 assists per game.
