03/09/26 09:49:00
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03/09 21:47 CDT Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ties Wilt's record and hits winning 3
as Thunder beat Nuggets 129-126
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ties Wilt's record and hits winning 3 as Thunder beat
Nuggets 129-126
By CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) --- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drilled a step-back 3-pointer
with 2.7 seconds left to cap a frantic final minute on a night he matched Wilt
Chamberlain's record for consecutive 20-point games, and the Oklahoma City beat
the Denver Nuggets 129-126 on Monday night.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 35 points and a career-high 15 assists,
becoming the second player in NBA history to have those totals and zero
turnovers. He also had nine rebounds. In the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander
reached the 20-point mark for the 126th straight game, equaling Chamberlain's
streak from 1961-63.
With Oklahoma City leading 126-122, Denver's Nikola Jokic hit a 3-pointer and
Oklahoma City's Jaylin Williams was called for an off-ball foul fighting
through a screen. Jamal Murray made the free throw with 8.5 seconds remaining
to tie the game.
Gilgeous-Alexander responded, elevating over Spencer Jones for his second 3 in
the final 14 seconds. Denver's Aaron Gordon missed a 61-foot heave at the
buzzer.
The Thunder are 6-0 since Gilgeous-Alexander returned from an abdominal strain
that sidelined him for nine games.
Williams scored 29 points and Ajay Mitchell, in his return after missing 20
games with an abdominal strain and a sprained left ankle, added 24 points.
Jokic had 32 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists. It was his 24th triple-double
of the season and the 188th of his career. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 28 points
and Gordon added 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets.
The Thunder were missing starters Chet Holmgren (illness), Isaiah Hartenstein
(bruised left calf) and Jalen Williams (strained right hamstring) and key
reserve Alex Caruso (bruised left hip).
Oklahoma City won a contentious game against the Nuggets on Feb. 27. Thunder
guard Lu Dort was ejected and the game was filled with physical play and hard
fouls.
Gordon, who missed the previous game against Oklahoma City with a strained
right hamstring, scored 17 points in the first 5 1/2 minutes to help the
Nuggets take a double-digit lead.
Oklahoma City led 66-60 at halftime, with Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 17 points.
The Thunder led by eight with just over two minutes remaining before Denver
rallied to set up the tight finish.
Up next
Nuggets: Host Houston on Wednesday.
Thunder: Host Boston on Thursday.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
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