Gilgeous-Alexander's Record 141-Game Scoring Streak Ends as Thunder Beat Nuggets 96-84

The longest 20-point scoring streak in NBA history is over. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 17 points on Thursday night as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Denver Nuggets 96-84 at Paycom Center, falling short of 20 points for the first time in 141 games. The Thunder still won their home opener and improved to 2-0. Denver, playing its first game of the season, fell to 0-1.

Gilgeous-Alexander made 6 of 19 shots from the field and 3 of 11 from three-point range in 34 minutes. He added two rebounds and three assists. The low scoring night did not cost his team, because Oklahoma City held Denver to 84 points, forced 22 turnovers and blocked nine shots.

A cold first half, then a late push

Denver led early. The Nuggets won the first quarter 27-24 and led 48-44 at halftime. Gilgeous-Alexander went scoreless in the first quarter on 0-for-4 shooting and had only two points at the break, scoring for the first time late in the second quarter.

Oklahoma City turned the game after halftime. The Thunder outscored Denver 26-16 in the third quarter to lead 70-64, then won the fourth quarter 26-20. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 10 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter and hit late shots that pushed the lead to 90-74 with under three minutes left. He then sat for the final minutes with the starters pulled and the game decided, three points short of keeping the streak alive.

Jalen Williams led Oklahoma City with 21 points. Chet Holmgren scored 12 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and blocked four shots. Ajay Mitchell added 12 points and five steals off the bench, and Cason Wallace scored nine points with four steals.

The streak, by the numbers

The run began after October 30, 2024, when San Antonio held Gilgeous-Alexander to 18 points. That was the last time he finished a game under 20 before Thursday night. The streak passed Wilt Chamberlain's NBA record of 126 straight 20-point games last season, when Gilgeous-Alexander reached the mark in his 127th straight game. He closed last season at 140 and extended the streak to 141 on Tuesday, scoring 32 points in a 116-104 win at San Antonio in the season opener.

Sportsnet reported the end of the streak on Thursday night, and the official box score confirms the line that ended it: 17 points in a game his team won by 12. Gilgeous-Alexander, a native of Hamilton, Ontario, and a two-time MVP, now starts a new run when Oklahoma City hosts the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, October 25.

Denver loses its opener

Aaron Gordon led Denver with 20 points. Nikola Jokic scored 13 points with seven rebounds and five assists, making 5 of 19 shots. Jamal Murray scored six points on 2-of-11 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds, and DeMar DeRozan added 13 points off the Denver bench unit. The Nuggets shot 37.8 percent from the field, close to Oklahoma City's 37.9 percent, but their 22 turnovers turned into extra chances the Thunder used to pull away. Oklahoma City scored 46 points in the paint to Denver's 36.

Denver also lost a starter during the game. Forward Cameron Johnson sprained his right ankle late in the second quarter after contesting a shot, limped off the floor and played only 11 minutes, scoring five points. Alpha Diallo started the second half in his place.