The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Denver Nuggets 121–111 on Sunday night in the United States, delivering a strong message to one of their main Western Conference rivals.
The result matters because both sides sit among the NBA’s elite this season, and the game showed clear differences in form, fitness, and shooting quality.
UK basketball fans following the Nuggets vs Thunder rivalry saw Oklahoma City control the contest from start to finish.
What happened in the Nuggets vs Thunder game?
The Thunder won behind a dominant display from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 34 points and added 13 assists. Young guard Cason Wallace backed him up with a career-best 27 points, including seven three-pointers.
shai gilgeous-alexander; thunder vs nuggets pic.twitter.com/yrpSZCe0ZQ
— ◇ (@F0RGIAT0) February 2, 2026
The game took place on Sunday night (US time) and marked the first of four regular-season meetings between the two teams this year. Denver never led at any point.
Why does this win matter for Oklahoma City?
The victory came at the right time for the Thunder, who had lost three of their previous four games before this matchup. More importantly, it showed their ability to beat a top contender with confidence and control.
Oklahoma City finished the night with 19 made three-pointers, highlighting their sharp perimeter shooting. In the third quarter alone, the Thunder hit eight of 13 shots from beyond the arc, turning a narrow halftime lead into a commanding advantage.
This performance will reassure fans and analysts that the Thunder can respond strongly after a dip in form.
NBA broadcast commentary: “Oklahoma City moved the ball beautifully and punished every defensive mistake Denver made.”
How did the Denver Nuggets struggle on the night?
The Nuggets relied heavily on Peyton Watson, who scored 29 points, but the team lacked balance and rhythm.
Two of Denver’s biggest stars had quiet nights:
- Nikola Jokic scored 16 points on just nine shot attempts
- Jamal Murray finished with 12 points, shooting 25% from the field and 1-for-8 from three-point range
Jokic was only playing his second game back after missing 16 matches with a knee injury, which showed in his limited involvement.
Denver also missed several key players through injury, which reduced their rotation and defensive options.
What decided the game after half-time?
Denver briefly cut the gap to 74–70 early in the third quarter, but Oklahoma City responded immediately.
A fast 12–0 run, sparked by Gilgeous-Alexander and finished with three-pointers from Aaron Wiggins, pushed the Thunder clear again. From that moment, the Nuggets never looked likely to recover.
The Thunder went into halftime leading 62–55 and extended that advantage to 16 points before the final quarter.
Who was missing and who returned?
Both teams faced injury issues:
Denver Nuggets absentees
- Christian Braun (left ankle)
- Cameron Johnson (right knee)
- Aaron Gordon (right hamstring, expected out until mid-March)
Oklahoma City Thunder absentees
- Jalen Williams (hamstring)
- Ajay Mitchell (abdomen)
- Alex Caruso (right adductor)
Despite this, both Nikola Jokic and Isaiah Hartenstein returned to action, adding extra attention to the matchup.
What happens next for both teams?
- The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night.
- Denver Nuggets travel to face the Detroit Pistons, also on Tuesday
Both fixtures will test how each side responds after this high-profile nuggets vs Thunder clash.
