Why the Denver Nuggets Always Bring Out the Best in Thunder Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The Battle for Western Conference Supremacy
For three seasons now, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has arrived in Denver with a singular purpose: to prove himself against the best and become the best. The Oklahoma City star and reigning NBA MVP shared an insightful perspective on this dynamic during a recent interview at Ball Arena, stating, "These types of games force you to throw your best punch, or else you'll get embarrassed."
Gilgeous-Alexander's prowess in Denver dates back to March 2022, when he was already on his way to becoming a 30-points-per-game scorer, a status he has maintained for four seasons. In a pivotal game on March 2, he led the Thunder to their first win in Denver, scoring 29 points and grabbing seven rebounds in a 119-107 victory.
Fast forward to the following season, and the Nuggets were on a path to securing the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and their first NBA title. In the final meeting between the two teams that season, Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder emerged victorious, with the star point guard scoring 34 points in a thrilling two-point win.
When Gilgeous-Alexander returned to Denver in December of that year, the stakes were even higher. He wasn't just aiming to defeat a strong team with the league's arguably best player, Nikola Jokic; he was also seeking to dethrone the defending champions. And he did just that, securing the win with a game-winning jump shot in the final moments.
Since that fateful game before Christmas 2023, Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder have maintained a 5-3 record at Ball Arena, including the memorable second-round playoff series last year. However, Sunday's performance—34 points on an efficient 11-for-16 shooting, coupled with a season-high 13 assists—may have been Gilgeous-Alexander's most impressive showing in this arena.
"They've won at the highest level, they have really good players, and they are a really good team. If you want to come out of the West, you've got to beat them," Gilgeous-Alexander remarked. "When you play them before the games really matter, you want to give them your best punch so you can see where you stand against them."
In the most recent encounter against the Nuggets—the first of four such meetings this season between the two powerhouses with the best odds to win the championship—Gilgeous-Alexander showcased a different approach.
He emerged as a passer, making simple reads and capitalizing on the Nuggets' overly aggressive defense. Consistently, he found open teammates on the perimeter, often Cason Wallace, who made a career-high seven 3-pointers, as the Thunder secured an easy 121-111 victory.
"As I go through my career and seasons and games, seeing different coverage and types of bodies, I just try to grow," Gilgeous-Alexander shared. "The better you get at individually scoring, the more they make you pass. It's just how it goes. I'd be doing myself a disservice if I didn't lean into that."
Gilgeous-Alexander's strategy seems to be evolving, as he now embraces the role of a passer, adapting to the defensive strategies of his opponents. This approach has proven effective, as the Thunder have secured a 5-3 record at Ball Arena since that fateful game before Christmas 2023.
The Nuggets will face Gilgeous-Alexander three more times in the regular season, and it wouldn't be surprising to see them clash again in the playoffs, perhaps with a spot in the NBA Finals on the line. If that happens, Gilgeous-Alexander will be ready to throw another punch, one that has been strengthened by last year's intense, seven-game duel between what many consider the NBA's best teams.
"Just going through that experience kinda forced me to get better in not only my plan A, but my plan B, plan C, and plan D," Gilgeous-Alexander reflected. "The greatest players of all time can attack you and kill you in multiple ways. That's what I'm gonna have to do to try to be the greatest I can be."
As the season unfolds, Gilgeous-Alexander's evolution as a player and his impact on the Thunder's success will undoubtedly be a topic of much discussion and debate among basketball enthusiasts. Will the Nuggets be able to stop him in their next encounters? And will the Thunder's star continue to shine brighter in Denver?
