October 23, 2026 at 5:06 AM UTC

Postgame Report

Thunder's depth and Holmgren's work on the glass sink Nuggets in Denver's opener, 96-84

By How we produce articles

Chet Holmgren had 12 points and 17 rebounds as Oklahoma City, fresh off its win in San Antonio, beat a Denver team playing its first game of the season.

The Thunder came into this one with a game already in their legs, a 116-104 win over the Spurs on opening night, and they looked like the more settled team. Oklahoma City beat the Denver Nuggets 96-84 at home Thursday. For Denver it was the first game of the season, and the Nuggets spent most of it looking like a team still working out its rhythm.

The assignment was never going to be easy. A road opener against a rival and a top contender leaves little room for a slow start. The marquee billing went to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, and neither dominated the box score. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 17 points on 35 minutes. Jokic had 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Jalen Williams led Oklahoma City with 21, and Aaron Gordon matched that energy for Denver with 20 and six rebounds.

The Nuggets are also coming off a season in which injuries wrecked their plans, and they opened this one without Julian Strawther. Jamal Murray played a game-high 37 minutes and grabbed 10 rebounds, but he scored only six points. Christian Braun added seven points and six rebounds in 33 minutes. Denver never found a second or third scorer to lean on beyond Gordon and DeMar DeRozan, who had 13.

The Thunder's depth showed in the details. Chet Holmgren was the one double-double of the night, with 12 points and 17 rebounds. Ajay Mitchell scored 12 in 23 minutes off the bench, and Alex Caruso added seven points and five assists in 20. Jaylin Williams grabbed seven rebounds in 15 minutes. Denver got 12 rebounds from Trevon Brazile, but he scored only four. Oklahoma City's second unit kept the pace when the starters rested, and Denver's did not match it.

Sources

All game reports