Even when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder broke their first true sweat of the new, unblemished season, the game shifted in their favor.
With desperation pervading the Denver altitude, the Thunder had one last possession, down two, and plenty of time to take the final shot. The ball landed in the hands of Gilgeous-Alexander, one of the league’s top closers. His will drove him to the left, his murder locations never far away.
The Thunder had packed up too many opponents in the third quarter to remember what it felt like. Wire-to-wire, possession by possession, tasked with winning a game in the last seconds — this time as the heavyweight. The Nuggets, without Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon, were still in line for an eighth victim.
But the urgency was Denver’s. It sparked Denver’s second half. And, after a well-timed rotation from teenage forward Peyton Watson, who blocked SGA’s final shot in a 124-122 OKC loss, desperation took over.
The Thunder led by as much as 16 points Wednesday night. It made three-pointers, its star guard appeared to enjoy his old positions on the court, and everything appeared to be clicking like they had in nearly every other third quarter of OKC’s season
But with eight minutes left in the game, any notion that Denver’s greatest punch was insufficient was shattered. The Nuggets went on a 22-6 run at one point in the quarter, shooting 13 for 17 from the field and a perfect 6 for 6 from deep.
Russell Westbrook exuded heroism. Michael Porter Jr.’s heart warmed when he saw OKC’s double teams on Nikola Jokic, who were giving MPJ open gym looks. Christian Braun hurled himself toward the rim. Watson drained three-pointers, and Julian Strawther managed a putback slam.
OKC hadn’t experienced this emotion in seven games. To see a team claw its way down to the end of its bench and have those players make an impact rather than being on the floor to rest starters. The Thunder have gutted teams out of halftime with soul-sucking defensive stretches, searching for any blood in the water.
Nonetheless, Denver delivered the battle. The Nuggets were the aggressors in a game in which both teams combined for 50 fouls (the most by any Thunder club this season).
Watson’s game-winning stop was the result of starvation. Thunder needed a reminder of this emotion.
Gilgeous-Alexander and the ball are often synonymous. His handle is an outgrowth of his offbeat rhythm. He makes easy reads and manipulates the game to his advantage with them. But, for once, Gilgeous-Alexander and the ball felt disconnected on Wednesday.
He’s never been required to set the table for the entire night, instead stitching together a defense that believes it can sway with his tempo. However, Denver kept up with SGA on Wednesday.
It recognized his gestures and grasped his hand to tango. It forced eight turnovers, which is unusual for such a cunning ball handler.
Gilgeous-Alexander began with minor faults. Pick-and-roll reads and pocket passes that went astray in a first half in which he otherwise hit all of his signature shots (28 points on 10-for-19 shooting). Then the All-NBA guard lost complete control.
He misplaced his handle. He mumbled expletives as possessions slipped away from him. Double teams and padded coverages posed a challenge to his style. The ball appeared to betray OKC’s superstar, with the latest of his mistakes coming off his own foot after seeing Denver’s defensive pressure.
Gilgeous-Alexander had two in each quarter, making for a night of reading he’d certainly like to repeat. A season ago, every night was pleasantly monotonous for him, resulting in the world’s most consistent. But since expanding his game earlier this season, Gilgeous-Alexander has been as unpredictable as his cadence. Wednesday night’s performance made its way to the top of the list.
Most nights, it’s worked in Gilgeous-Alexander’s favor, giving him the freedom to be creative while remaining a member of the All-Star Guard. Denver happened to challenge him to be even more inventive.