Thunder vs Nuggets stats: Shai held to 2 points as Denver leads
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored just 2 points in the first half on 0-for-7 shooting.
- Denver leads Oklahoma City 48-44 at halftime in OKC's home opener.
- SGA's 141-game streak of 20-point games is in danger tonight.
The Denver Nuggets lead the Oklahoma City Thunder 48-44 at halftime. The game was played Thursday night at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
It is the Thunder's home opener. It is also Denver's first game of the new NBA season.
The biggest story so far is simple. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the best scorer in the league, scored only 2 points in the first half.
What happened
Denver took the lead early and kept it. The Nuggets won the first quarter 27-24.
They won the second quarter 21-20. That gave them the 48-44 lead at the break.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went scoreless in the first quarter. He missed all four of his shots. Three of those were three-pointers, according to The Oklahoman.
The second quarter did not change much. For the first 22 minutes of game time, SGA had zero points.
He finally scored with about two minutes left in the half. He made two free throws. Those were his only points.
His first-half line reads like this: 2 points, 0 made field goals in 7 tries, no three-pointers, 2 rebounds and 2 assists. That is it, according to Heavy.com.
He did not get hurt. He played his normal minutes in the first half. Denver's defense just shut him down.
He settled for outside shots too often. Five of his first seven shots came from beyond the arc. That is not his best game, Heavy reported.
The Thunder got help from other players. Jalen Williams led OKC with 10 points and 5 rebounds at the half.
Chet Holmgren added 6 points and 5 rebounds. Ajay Mitchell chipped in 8 points and 2 steals off the bench.
Denver was not shooting well either. Nikola Jokic, their star, had just 8 points on 3-of-12 shooting.
The Thunder shot 38 percent as a team. They made only 4 of 16 three-pointers. Still, they were down just four points at the break.
The Thunder started SGA, Cason Wallace, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. The Nuggets started Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic.
Why it matters
This kind of half almost never happens to SGA. He had scored at least 20 points in 141 straight regular-season games.
That is one of the longest streaks in NBA history. With only 2 points at the half, that streak is in real danger, according to The Oklahoman.
If he finishes under 20 points, the streak ends tonight. He would need at least 18 more points in the second half to keep it alive. That means a big second half from a player who has been ice cold.
There is also a record on the defensive side. SGA now has sole possession of second place for the most career blocks by a point guard.
He has 426. He only trails John Wall, who has 439. The most blocks by any guard is Dwyane Wade with 885.
SGA reached his mark in 532 games. Wade needed 1054 games, according to The Oklahoman.
The game matters for both teams too. The Thunder won their opener 116-104 over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.
SGA had 32 points and 4 assists in that game. Holmgren added 14 points and 7 rebounds. That win was a strong start to the season.
Denver is playing its first game tonight. The Nuggets were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs last season. They want a fresh start.
A road win in OKC would be a big one. For NBA opening week action, see our Celtics vs Pistons opening-day recap.
Some key players are missing. The Thunder are without Nikola Topić, Thomas Sorber and Otega Oweh. All three are out after surgery.
Denver is without Julian Strawther. Spencer Jones is a game-time call with a hamstring issue.
What happens next
The second half will decide two things. Who wins the game. And whether SGA's scoring streak survives.
Denver leads by four. The Thunder are at home. Both stars have been cold.
Whoever heats up first will likely take the game.
If SGA wakes up, the streak stays alive. If he stays cold, one of the great scoring runs in recent NBA history ends.
Fans watching on ESPN have seen him take over many second halves before. He settled for too many jumpers in the first half, Heavy reported. Expect him to attack the rim more after the break.
The Thunder keep rolling after tonight. They host the Clippers on Sunday, October 25.
They host the Suns on Monday, October 26. Then they travel to face the Mavericks on Wednesday, October 28. A win tonight would start the home stand at 2-0.
For now, the question everyone is asking is simple. Can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander find his shot? Two points in a half is not normal for him.
The second half will tell us if it was just a bad 24 minutes, or something more.
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