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Nuggets defense offers a welcome surprise in ugly opener against Thunder

The opening game for the Nuggets wasn't pretty. But their defense was surprisingly stout against the Thunder.

Published: Friday, 23 October 2026 at 6:00 PM
Nuggets defense offers a welcome surprise in ugly opener against Thunder
Key Things to Know
  • David Decker writes that Denver's defense showed significant improvement despite an opening 96-84 loss to Oklahoma City.
  • The Thunder defeated the Nuggets 96-84 as Denver struggled offensively.
  • Denver held Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to 17 points, ending his 141-game streak of scoring at least 20 points.
The Story in 60 Seconds

The Denver Nuggets opened their regular season with a 96-84 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite poor offensive performances from Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, the author highlights Denver's defense as a major bright spot, noting that the Nuggets effectively slowed down Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Denver double-teamed Gilgeous-Alexander throughout the game, holding him to 17 points on 6-of-19 shooting and snapping his 141-game streak of scoring 20 or more points. Writer David Decker praised improved perimeter containment from Christian Braun and Alpha Diallo, strong defensive contributions from the bench, and effective offensive rebounding.

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