The series between the Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder spills out various narratives. But of course, the most obvious is the MVP battle between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić.
The two players started slowly but caught fire in the second half as the game went into overtime. Yet, in the end, the Nuggets channelized into their championship pedigree to come away with the victory.
The Nuggets hit their shots in overtime, and the Thunder had no answer as they went on an 11-2 run. The game concluded with the former NBA champion scoring a priceless 113-104 victory.
Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t have a productive night as the Nuggets shut him down to take a 2-1 lead in the series. Let’s explore how Gilgeous-Alexander fared tonight in a stunning Game 3.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Denver Nuggets: Game 3 Stats
| Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44:48 | 18 | 13 | 7 | 7/22 | 1/6 |
Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Nuggets: How Did SGA Perform in Game 3?
With the exciting game tipping off, both the MVP contenders had a slow start. Gilgeous-Alexander got his first points on the board at 7:08 with a crafty mid-range shot. Since then, he hit one free throw and started strong on the glass, grabbing four rebounds.
On the other hand, Jokić had 5 points at the same mark, shooting 1-5 from the floor. Therefore, the other players in the team stepped up to make a difference for both teams.
Although he didn’t put up many points in the first quarter, he helped the OKC team guard players, helped with the team’s gap presence as they had a player on the Nuggets on every single possession, and had a fine rim presence.
When he’s not scoring, SGA hits the opposite team with various plays in his arsenal, competing hard on the defensive side.
In a rare occurrence, Gilgeous-Alexander, arguably the best free-throw shooter in the league, missed two free throws because he started slow. At the end of the first half, SGA put up five points, grabbed nine rebounds, and stole the ball four times.
SGA and his teammates continued to play tough defense, not allowing the Nuggets player to make a difference. They shut down the lanes, hustled for the ball, and doubled-teamed players with open looks. Just like SGA conducts the offense, his defense often goes unnoticed.
In terms of scoring, Gilgeous-Alexander had two crafty layups as he drove to the rim in the third quarter. He didn’t convert those chances in the first half, but he looked like he got his mojo back in the third quarter.
He improved his shooting to 67% and knocked down 4/6 shots. SGA increased his point total to 15 and slowly imprinted his identity on the floor. But the Nuggets matched them step-by-step, and the game went to OT.
However, the Thunder’s game got out of hand as SGA and Co. couldn’t win. He finished the game with 18 points, capping off a weak display.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Nuggets: Head-to-Head Career Stats
Digging deep into history books, we see some players as pure scorers, such as Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Durant, to name a few. It’s time to put Gilgeous-Alexander on the list.
Be it footwork, mid-range jumpers, or even the infamous free throws, the 2025 NBA scoring champion is here to stay. Thus, SGA stands out by exploring his head-to-head record against the Nuggets.
In 24 games, Gilgeous-Alexander imprinted his influence by scoring 22.0 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.9 rebounds. The Thunder also gained another advantage: Gilgeous-Alexander averages 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks, showcasing his defensive side.
Some think he must win the MVP award with his stunning performances this time. The playoff series between the Memphis Grizzlies accelerated those calls. He had 27.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists and breezed past the Grizzlies.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s Last 10 games vs. the Nuggets
- December 16, 2023 – 25 pts, 6 rebs, 8 asts
- December 29, 2023 – 40 pts, 4 rebs, 3 asts
- January 31, 2024 – 34 pts, 7 rebs, 5 asts
- October 24, 2024 – 28 pts, 7 rebs, 8 asts
- November 06, 2024 – 28 pts, 2 rebs, 6 asts
- March 09, 2025 – 40 pts, 8 rebs, 5 asts
- March 10, 2025 – 25 pts, 3 rebs, 7 asts
- May 05, 2025 – 33 pts, 10 rebs, 8 asts
- May 07, 2025 – 34 pts, 4 rebs, 8 asts
- May 09, 2025 – 18 pts, 13 rebs, 7 asts