Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points (17 in the third quarter), and the Oklahoma City Thunder routed the defending champion Denver Nuggets 119-93.
The Thunder led by as many as 26, pulling away with a 28-8 run in the third quarter.
Chet Holmgren scored 24 points (14 in the first quarter) on 9 for 14 shooting. Jalen Williams assisted on 5 of Holmgren’s 9 baskets, 3 of them 3-pointers.
For the Nuggets, Nikola Jokić had 19 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists on 9 for 10 shooting.
The Thunder shot 50.5% from the field and 34.3% from 3 to the Nuggets’ 42.4% and 27.0%. The Nuggets got 5 offensive rebounds, about 7 fewer than usual for the shots they missed. The Thunder outscored the Nuggets 25-13 on the fast break. The Nuggets’ starters were outscored 62-50 in 23 minutes together.