Thunder Sizzle in Record-Breaking Performance, Down Nuggets 149-106
In a scintillating display of offence, the Oklahoma City Thunder set an NBA playoff record for first-half points with 87 against the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series on Wednesday night. According to NBA.com, the Thunder’s impressive performance propelled them to a 149-106 win, tying the series 1-1.
The Thunder’s 87 points in the first half surpassed the previous record of 86 set by the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on June 9, 2017. As noted by NBA.com, Chet Holmgren sealed the record with a pair of free throws with a second remaining in the half. The Thunder also tied the record for points in any half of a playoff game, matching Milwaukee’s 87 in the second half against Denver on April 23, 1978.
The Thunder’s offence was firing on all cylinders, shooting 58.8% from the field and making 17 of 18 free throws to take an 87-56 lead at the break. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 18 points in the first half, and all five Thunder starters scored in double figures. As NBA.com reported, Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 34 points and eight assists in three quarters, his impressive performance epitomising the Thunder’s dominance.
The Thunder’s victory marked a significant improvement from Game 1, where they suffered a 121-119 defeat. Denver interim coach David Adelman attributed the Nuggets’ poor performance to a lacklustre start, saying, "This is a team that does that. There’s a reason why they have historic plus-minus numbers throughout the season as they put people away. So you’ve got to have a much better start than that. We can’t come out like that," as quoted by NBA.com.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault, however, was quick to emphasise that his team’s performance was not a direct response to the previous game. "I didn’t really look at tonight as a response as much as I looked at tonight as just us being who we are, and that’s how we’ve been all season," Daigneault said. "We don’t really respond to the last game. When we win, we don’t have more confidence. When we lose, we don’t have more urgency. I think this team has a really good baseline that we just try to return to every day when the sun comes up and we have a game. And I thought that’s what tonight was," according to NBA.com.
The Thunder’s win also marked a historic milestone, as they became the first team to post two wins by at least 40 points in a postseason. As NBA.com noted, the Thunder rolled past Memphis 131-80 in Game 1 of their first-round series. With this impressive performance, the Thunder have sent a statement to their opponents, demonstrating their capability to dominate games on both ends of the court.
As the series shifts back to Denver, the Nuggets will look to regroup and respond to the Thunder’s emphatic victory. The Thunder, meanwhile, will seek to build on their momentum, aiming to take control of the series and make a deep playoff run. With their potent offence and stifling defence, the Thunder are undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference.
