Thunder’s 3-point barrage overpowers Nuggets in 121-111 victory

Oklahoma City’s explosive perimeter shooting proved too much for the Denver Nuggets as the Thunder secured a 121-111 win on Sunday night in Denver.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 34 points and 13 assists, but it was Cason Wallace’s career night – 27 points, including seven 3-pointers – that turned the game into a long-range showcase. Oklahoma City drilled 19 triples in total, going 8-for-13 from deep in the third quarter alone to turn a modest seven-point halftime lead into a 16-point advantage.

The Nuggets, paced by Peyton Watson’s 29 points, never held the lead and struggled to find rhythm. Denver’s All-Stars were largely contained: Nikola Jokic scored 16 points on just nine shots in only his second game back from a 16-game knee absence, while Jamal Murray managed 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting despite dishing out 12 assists.

Chet Holmgren, recently named an All-Star reserve, hit a crucial 3-pointer in the third quarter, sparking a Thunder 12-0 run fueled entirely by outside shooting, including Wallace’s sixth and seventh treys and contributions from Gilgeous-Alexander and Aaron Wiggins.

Both teams were operating with depleted rosters. Oklahoma City was missing Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell, and Alex Caruso, while Denver awaits the return of Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson and will be without Aaron Gordon until mid-March.

The win allowed the Thunder to bounce back after losing three of four, highlighting their depth and ability to dominate from long range. Oklahoma City hosts the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, while Denver travels to Detroit to face the Pistons.