The Denver Nuggets suffered one of the most lopsided playoff defeats in recent NBA history on Tuesday night, falling 149–106 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series. It was a dominant performance by the upstart Thunder—and an embarrassing outing for the defending champions. After the game, reigning contender for the MVP Nikola Jokic didn’t sugarcoat the loss.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge for Oklahoma City, who overwhelmed Denver on both ends of the floor. The Thunder had eight players score in double figures and dictated the game with relentless energy, pace, and physicality. For the Nuggets, there was little to salvage.
“Basically, it was one team playing tonight,” Jokic told reporters. “Even the turnovers, the misses — they were aggressive. They were rebounding the ball. They were just better. They were much, much better than us today, and that’s why the score was so bad.”
He reiterated the message later: “They were just better in every segment of the game. They were going by us, they were rebounding the ball. They were just better.” The stats backed him up. Oklahoma City controlled the glass, moved the ball with ease, and stifled Denver defensively from the opening tip. The Nuggets, meanwhile, looked sluggish—perhaps still feeling the effects of their grueling seven-game series against the Clippers in the first round.
The team knows what needs to be done for the next game
Despite the blowout, Denver isn’t panicking just yet. The team knows adjustments must be made, particularly in handling OKC’s intense defensive pressure on Jokic and Jamal Murray.
“I think I wanted to set a good screen on Jamal because they were so physical—hands on him—and it happens, you know,” Jokic said when asked about a key second-half sequence. “Just try to fight for the position as best as you can and deal with the consequences.”
Aaron Gordon on the physical defense against Jokic
Thunder defenders were draped all over Jokic for most of the night, and the physicality wasn’t lost on his teammates. Forward Aaron Gordon expressed frustration postgame. “They’re fouling the guy,” Gordon said bluntly. “They’re calling the second foul almost every time. But they’re fouling him. Point blank. Period.”
With the series now tied 1–1, Denver will have to regroup quickly. Game 3 shifts back to Ball Arena, where the Nuggets will try to restore order and reassert themselves as the NBA contenders champs. But if they can’t match Oklahoma City’s physicality and energy, they could find themselves in serious trouble.