streak ends as Thunder beat Nuggets
SHAI Gilgeous-Alexander scored just 17 points to snap an NBA-record streak, but the Oklahoma City Thunder knocked off the Denver Nuggets 96-84 at home Thursday.
Gilgeous-Alexander had scored 20 or more points in an NBA-record 141 consecutive games. He hadn’t been held below 20 points in the regular season since Oct. 30, 2024.
Gilgeous-Alexander had a chance to extend the streak, but with less than two minutes remaining and Oklahoma City up by 17, Nuggets coach David Adelman emptied his bench following a timeout. The reigning two-time NBA Most Valuable Player didn’t wait for direction from Thunder coach Mark Daigneault, taking his place on the bench to officially end the streak.
To that point, Gilgeous-Alexander had been making a strong push toward keeping the streak alive with 10 fourth-quarter points.
Oklahoma City hadn’t led since going up 3-0 in the opening seconds until Ajay Mitchell’s transition layup with just more than two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
In the closing seconds of the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander raced up the court after a rebound from Jaylin Williams and drained a 3-pointer in transition to put the Thunder up by six.
Gilgeous-Alexander had been 0-for-7 from beyond the arc before hitting the shot.
Gilgeous-Alexander was initially called for a foul on Nikola ‘s 3-point heave as time expired in the quarter, which would have given Jokic three free throws, but the play was challenged and the foul call was overturned. (Reuters)
