The defending champions are Thunderstruck.
The Nuggets’ season-best six-game win streak is no more, sandwiched by losses at altitude to the same team 13 days apart. Unlike the first bookend, this one was convincing: a 119-93 bludgeoning by the Thunder on Friday night at Ball Arena.
It was Denver’s worst loss at home since getting blasted by the Golden State Warriors, 142-111, on Jan. 15, 2019.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whom the Nuggets (23-11) guarded exceptionally for the first seven quarters of their matchups this season, erupted for 40 points on 14-of-20 shooting in an encore to his last-second game-winning shot over Peyton Watson on Dec.