The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder struck the primary Sunday within the first in a sequence of two video games between the 2 greatest groups within the West with the principle NBA MVP candidates.
The Thunder led a 9-0 quarter of the fourth quarter to open a decent match, then retained the Denver Nuggets for A 127-103 victory. Oklahoma Metropolis dominated Denver by 21 factors within the fourth quarter of what was beforehand a backwards and forwards match between candidates for the Western Convention.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander completed with 40 factors, eight rebounds, 5 assists and three blocks to steer the Thunder effort. He scored seven Thunder consecutive Thunder factors in 1:20 on the finish of the fourth quarter to crush all hope of a nugget rally.
SGA responds in a heated MVP race
The 40-point match was the eleventh of the season for Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s searching for his first MVP prize whereas heading the Thunder of the Western Convention. He arrange the large figures within the first match since Nikola Jokić Historic effort of 31 factors, 22-assistants, 21 years previous Towards the Suns on Friday night, it was the primary 30-20-20 recreation within the historical past of the NBA.
This recreation has reaffirmed Jokić’s place within the MVP dialog whereas searching for the fourth MVP trophy in his profession. Jokić had one other robust effort with 24 factors, 13 rebounds on Sunday Sunday. However he struggled along with his shot after seeming to alter his proper elbow to the primary quarter whereas Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder obtained the perfect of his nuggets.
Jokić had an envelope round his elbow on the bench after Strike him on the bottom after a fault. This didn’t restrict his availability when he completed the match with 41 minutes. He had ice on his elbow Within the post-match altering rooms, however head coach Michael Malone instructed journalists that his elbow was wonderful.
Nuggets ahead Aaron Gordon left the sport early with the waterproofing of the calves and didn’t come again. His standing sooner or later was not clear after the match.
Jokić scored 14 of his 24 factors within the first quarter whereas the Nuggets opened an advance of 29-28. The match remained near the top of the third quarter whereas Oklahoma Metropolis entered the fourth with an advance of 86-83. However the fourth quarter was all Thunder.
SGA Dagger punctuates the 4th trimester dominant OKC
Oklahoma Metropolis managed a 9-0 race to increase her advance at 103-91 with 7:28 to play. Then Gilgeous-Alexander topped a 7-2 private race with a 3-point that prolonged Oklahoma Metropolis’s advance to 119-101 and put the sport in mattress with 2:14 to play.
With the victory, the Thunder prolonged its western convention file at 53-11 whereas depositing the Nuggets at 41-23. Oklahoma Metropolis is now 12 video games forward of the Nuggets and the 40-22 Los Angeles Lakers.
The Nuggets and the Thunder will meet once more at Oklahoma Metropolis on Monday night.
