Oct 22, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) moves the ball down the court beside Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) during the first half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Oct 22, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) moves the ball down the court beside Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) during the first half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
The Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t need the typical scoring performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to take down the Denver Nuggets. Instead, they relied on their defensive pressure and collective effort to secure a 96-84 victory, turning a game of inefficient shooting into a statement about their ability to win in different ways.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 17 points on 6-19 shooting, including 3-11 from beyond the arc. Those numbers were well below his usual standard, but Oklahoma City had enough contributors to compensate. Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 21 points, while Chet Holmgren dominated the glass with 17 rebounds and protected the rim with four blocks.
The biggest difference came on the defensive end. Oklahoma City forced 22 Denver turnovers, recorded 12 steals, and blocked nine shots. The Thunder also assisted on 22 baskets while committing only 12 turnovers themselves. Despite shooting just 37.9% from the field and 25.6% from three-point range, they created enough extra possessions and easy opportunities to pull away.
Here are the Thunder player ratings from the win.
Chet Holmgren: A
Game Stats: 12 PTS, 17 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 4 BLK, 3 TOV, 5-9 FG, 0-1 3-PT FG, 2-2 FT, 28 MIN
Holmgren was arguably Oklahoma City’s most impactful player outside of Jalen Williams. He scored 12 points on efficient 5-9 shooting, grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds, and recorded four blocks. His nine offensive rebounds were especially impressive, allowing the Thunder to generate second-chance opportunities despite their shooting struggles. Holmgren’s rim protection made life difficult for Denver throughout the night.
Jalen Williams: A
Game Stats: 21 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST, 1 TOV, 7-15 FG, 2-6 3-PT FG, 5-6 FT, 33 MIN
Williams stepped up when Gilgeous-Alexander couldn’t find his usual rhythm. He led Oklahoma City with 21 points on 7-15 shooting and converted five of his six free throws. Williams also added five rebounds and three assists while committing just one turnover. He didn’t need a dominant shooting performance to take control offensively, instead providing the reliable scoring presence the Thunder needed to separate from Denver. His balanced performance was critical to the victory.
Ajay Mitchell: A
Game Stats: 12 PTS, 5 STL, 1 BLK, 3 TOV, 5-11 FG, 0-4 3-PT FG, 2-2 FT, 23 MIN
Mitchell delivered one of the night’s most disruptive performances. He scored 12 points, recorded five steals, and added a block in 23 minutes. His 5-11 shooting wasn’t spectacular, and he committed three turnovers, but his defensive instincts repeatedly put Denver under pressure. Five steals in a single game is an outstanding contribution, and Mitchell helped fuel the Thunder’s ability to turn Denver’s mistakes into points.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: B
Game Stats: 17 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST, 1 BLK, 6-19 FG, 3-11 3-PT FG, 2-2 FT, 35 MIN
This was an unusually inefficient night for the reigning superstar, who needed 19 shots to score 17 points. His 3-11 performance from three-point range was particularly concerning, and he didn’t generate much offense at the rim or from the free-throw line. Still, Gilgeous-Alexander deserves credit for protecting the ball, committing zero turnovers in 35 minutes, and finishing with a team-best plus-21. Oklahoma City won comfortably despite his shooting struggles, which says plenty about the supporting cast around him.
Alex Caruso: B
Game Stats: 7 PTS, 4 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 3-7 FG, 1-5 3-PT FG, 20 MIN
Caruso was excellent in his supporting role, finishing with seven points, four rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block in 20 minutes. Most importantly, he committed zero turnovers while helping Oklahoma City move the ball and maintain defensive pressure. His five assists tied for the team high, and his plus-17 reflected the Thunder’s strong results during his time on the floor. Caruso’s impact went well beyond his modest scoring total.
Isaiah Hartenstein: B-
Game Stats: 6 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, 1 BLK, 2 TOV, 3-10 FG, 23 MIN
Hartenstein didn’t have a particularly productive scoring night, finishing with six points on 3-10 shooting in 23 minutes. However, he contributed six rebounds and two assists while helping Oklahoma City establish its defensive presence inside. His three offensive rebounds also gave the Thunder additional chances, even if his finishing wasn’t consistent.
Cason Wallace: B-
Game Stats: 9 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST, 4 STL, 3-8 FG, 3-6 3-PT FG, 24 MIN
Wallace was a defensive menace. He scored nine points, knocked down three three-pointers, and recorded four steals in just 24 minutes. His shooting was hardly perfect, but his ability to disrupt Denver’s offense made a major difference in a game where neither team shot well. Wallace finished with no turnovers and helped Oklahoma City turn defensive stops into transition opportunities. His four steals were a team high and a major part of the Thunder’s turnover advantage.
Jaylin Williams: B-
Game Stats: 3 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST, 1-4 FG, 1-4 3-PT FG, 15 MIN
Jaylin Williams gave Oklahoma City valuable minutes with three points, seven rebounds, and three assists in 15 minutes. He didn’t shoot efficiently, making just one of four attempts, but he contributed across the board and didn’t turn the ball over. His seven rebounds helped the Thunder maintain their physical presence, and his ability to facilitate from the frontcourt added another dimension to the offense.
Aday Mara: C-
Game Stats: 2 PTS, 3 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TOV, 1-3 FG, 13 MIN
Mara finished with two points, three rebounds, one steal, and one block in 13 minutes. He shot 1-3 from the field and committed one turnover, so his offensive contribution was limited. Still, he provided some size and defensive activity off the bench. His minutes were modest, and he had limited opportunities to make a larger impact.
Jared McCain: C-
Game Stats: 4 PTS, 1 AST, 2 TOV, 1-6 FG, 0-3 3-PT FG, 2-2 FT, 18 MIN
McCain scored four points and added one assist in 18 minutes, shooting 1-6 from the field. He made both free throws but struggled to find a rhythm from the floor and committed two turnovers. His contribution was limited, though Oklahoma City didn’t need a major scoring night from him to secure the win.
Brooks Barnhizer: N/A
Game Stats: 1 AST, 2 MIN
Barnhizer played only two minutes, recording one assist without attempting a shot. There isn’t enough of a sample to fairly evaluate his performance, though he avoided mistakes in his brief appearance.
Kenrich Williams: N/A
Game Stats: 3 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST, 1-2 FG, 1-2 3-PT FG, 6 MIN
Williams made the most of his six minutes, scoring three points on 1-2 shooting and adding one rebound and one assist. He also knocked down his only three-point attempt. His role was limited, but he was efficient with his opportunities and avoided turnovers.
Bennett Stirtz: N/A
Game Stats: 0-1 FG, 0-1 3-PT FG, 2 MIN
Stirtz played two minutes and went 0-1 from the field. He didn’t record any other statistics, leaving too little evidence to assign a meaningful performance grade.
Eddie is a senior staff writer for Fadeaway World from Denver, Colorado. Since joining the team in 2017, Eddie has applied his academic background in economics and finance to enhance his sports journalism. Graduating with a Bachelor's degree from and later a Master's degree in Finance, he integrates statistical analysis into his articles. This unique approach provides readers with a deeper understanding of basketball through the lens of financial and economic concepts. Eddie's work has not only been a staple at Fadeaway World but has also been featured in prominent publications such as Sports Illustrated. His ability to break down complex data and present it in an accessible way creates an engaging and informative way to visualize both individual and team statistics. From finding the top 3 point shooters of every NBA franchise to ranking players by cost per point, Eddie is constantly finding new angles to use historical data that other NBA analysts may be overlooking.