The Oklahoma City Thunder made a thunderous statement in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals, crushing the Denver Nuggets 149-106 in a wire-to-wire rout that rewrote playoff record books.
Just two nights after losing a double-digit lead in the series opener, the Thunder flipped the script behind a commanding performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The MVP frontrunner tallied 34 points and eight assists on nearly flawless shooting, exiting with a jaw-dropping +51 plus-minus — the highest in any playoff game since tracking began.
The Thunder exploded to a 45-21 first-quarter lead and never looked back, tying their franchise record for points in a quarter and setting a new NBA mark for most points in a first half (87). By the third quarter, the lead had ballooned to 48, forcing Nuggets star Nikola Jokic to the bench after fouling out.
“We came out desperate,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “But it’s still 1-1.”
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault emphasized consistency over emotion: “We don’t respond emotionally. We return to who we are.”
Game 3 shifts to Denver, where the reigning champions will need to regroup quickly.
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