denver nuggets vs okc thunder match player stats

Denver Nuggets vs OKC Thunder Match Player Stats

The denver nuggets vs okc thunder match player stats from February 2, 2026, tell a much deeper story than the final 121-111 score. Oklahoma City defeated Denver at Ball Arena by controlling the middle quarters and producing several standout individual performances. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 34 points and 13 assists, while Cason Wallace added 27 points on excellent shooting. For Denver, Peyton Watson delivered 29 points, but the Nuggets could not overcome Oklahoma City’s efficiency, ball pressure, and overall offensive balance.

The game was played at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, with an attendance of 19,900. Oklahoma City entered the matchup at 39-11 overall and 18-6 on the road. Denver entered at 33-17 and 14-10 at home. Those records already showed that this was a meeting between two highly competitive teams, but the individual numbers explain why Oklahoma City finished with the victory.

Denver Nuggets vs OKC Thunder Match Player Stats

The denver nuggets vs okc thunder match player stats provide an excellent example of how a basketball game can be decided by several smaller advantages rather than one statistic.

Oklahoma City won 121-111, but Denver actually finished with a slightly better field-goal percentage. The Nuggets shot 39-of-79 from the field, or 49%, compared with 40-of-85, or 47%, for the Thunder.

That number alone might suggest Denver had the better offensive night. The complete box score tells a different story.

Oklahoma City made 19 three-pointers compared with Denver’s 16. The Thunder also made 22 free throws on 27 attempts, while Denver converted 17 of 24.

The biggest difference came from playmaking and turnovers.

The Thunder recorded 23 assists and 13 turnovers. Denver produced 29 assists but committed 17 turnovers. Those four additional turnovers gave Oklahoma City more opportunities to attack before Denver could establish its defense.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was particularly influential. His 34 points came with 13 assists, five rebounds, two steals, and one block. His +22 plus/minus was also the best mark among the starters in this game.

Cason Wallace was another major factor. He scored 27 points while shooting 9-of-14 overall and 7-of-11 from three-point range. His +14 plus/minus showed that his offensive production translated into strong team performance.

For Denver, Peyton Watson was the leading scorer with 29 points. He shot 11-of-17 from the field and 5-of-7 from three-point range. Nikola Jokic added 16 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists, while Jamal Murray contributed 12 assists despite shooting 4-of-16.

These numbers make the matchup particularly interesting because both teams received strong individual performances, but Oklahoma City received better overall efficiency from its primary contributors.

Game Summary and Final Score

The final score was:

Oklahoma City Thunder 121, Denver Nuggets 111

The four-quarter scoring pattern was:

Quarter Oklahoma City Denver
1st 32 26
2nd 30 29
3rd 39 30
4th 20 26
Final 121 111

Oklahoma City established an early advantage by winning the opening quarter 32-26.

Denver responded in the second quarter but could only reduce the deficit by one point. The Nuggets entered halftime trailing 62-55.

The third quarter became the defining period of the game.

The Thunder scored 39 points while Denver managed 30. That nine-point swing pushed Oklahoma City’s advantage into a much more difficult range for Denver to overcome.

Denver did win the fourth quarter 26-20. However, the comeback came too late.

The Thunder had already created an 18-point advantage after three quarters. Denver’s final-quarter effort reduced the margin, but Oklahoma City remained in control.

Why the Third Quarter Mattered

The third quarter is arguably the most important part of the box score.

Oklahoma City scored 39 points in that period. Denver scored 30.

A nine-point quarter difference is significant in a game that ultimately ended with a 10-point margin.

This means the final score does not fully explain the game’s flow. Denver played better in the fourth quarter, but the damage from the third quarter was too large.

Oklahoma City’s ability to produce a high-scoring third quarter also demonstrated its offensive depth. The Thunder did not depend entirely on one scorer during that stretch.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Leads Oklahoma City

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander produced the most complete individual performance in the game.

His line was:

Statistic Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Minutes 33
Points 34
Field Goals 11-16
Three-Pointers 1-2
Free Throws 11-13
Rebounds 5
Assists 13
Turnovers 4
Steals 2
Blocks 1
Plus/Minus +22

The first number that stands out is 34 points.

However, the 13 assists are equally important.

Gilgeous-Alexander was not simply scoring against Denver’s defense. He was also creating opportunities for teammates.

His 11-of-16 shooting represented strong efficiency from the field. He also made 11 of 13 free throws.

That combination allowed him to generate 34 points without needing a large number of field-goal attempts.

His +22 plus/minus was also the highest among Oklahoma City’s listed starters.

Plus/minus measures the team’s net point difference while a player is on the floor. It should not be treated as an isolated measure of individual quality, but in this game it supported what the rest of the box score showed.

When Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, Oklahoma City consistently controlled the scoreboard.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s Playmaking Impact

His 13 assists were particularly important against a Denver team that had 29 assists overall.

At first glance, Denver’s 29 assists might seem like an obvious advantage. Yet the Thunder still won by 10 points.

That illustrates why assist totals should not be viewed without considering turnovers and scoring efficiency.

Gilgeous-Alexander combined scoring pressure with playmaking. Denver had to account for him as a scorer, which created opportunities for teammates.

His performance was therefore more than a traditional scoring display.

It was a complete offensive game.

Cason Wallace Produces a Huge Shooting Night

Cason Wallace was arguably the biggest statistical surprise for Oklahoma City.

He finished with 27 points in only 30 minutes.

His shooting line was:

Statistic Cason Wallace
Minutes 30
Points 27
Field Goals 9-14
Three-Pointers 7-11
Free Throws 2-3
Rebounds 6
Assists 0
Turnovers 0
Steals 2
Blocks 0
Plus/Minus +14

The most impressive figure is his three-point shooting.

Wallace made 7 of 11 attempts from beyond the arc.

That is a 63.6% three-point conversion rate.

His overall field-goal percentage was also excellent. He made 9 of 14 attempts, which equals 64.3%.

Even more important, he scored 27 points without committing a turnover.

That combination of volume, efficiency, and ball security gave Oklahoma City an important secondary scoring source.

Why Wallace’s Shooting Changed the Matchup

Denver could not focus exclusively on Gilgeous-Alexander.

Wallace’s perimeter shooting punished defensive attention elsewhere.

When a player is making seven three-pointers in a game, defensive rotations become much more difficult. Every late closeout creates another opportunity for the offense.

Wallace’s performance also reduced the pressure on Oklahoma City’s other players.

The Thunder received 34 points from Gilgeous-Alexander and 27 from Wallace. That gave the team 61 points from two players.

Chet Holmgren Provides Defensive Value

Chet Holmgren finished with 14 points and four rebounds.

His offensive numbers were not as dominant as those of Gilgeous-Alexander or Wallace, but his defensive contribution was notable.

Statistic Chet Holmgren
Minutes 28
Points 14
Field Goals 3-10
Three-Pointers 1-7
Free Throws 7-8
Rebounds 4
Assists 1
Turnovers 1
Steals 0
Blocks 3
Plus/Minus +10

Holmgren recorded three blocks.

That was the highest block total among Oklahoma City’s starters.

His 7-of-8 free-throw shooting also helped him reach 14 points despite making only three field goals.

His +10 plus/minus indicated that the Thunder maintained a positive scoring margin during his minutes.

Oklahoma City’s Other Important Contributors

The Thunder received useful production beyond their top three performers.

Aaron Wiggins scored 14 points in 25 minutes.

He shot 5-of-9 from the field and 3-of-6 from three-point range. He also collected six rebounds and two steals.

Jaylin Williams added eight points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block in 24 minutes.

Isaiah Joe scored nine points and made three of nine three-point attempts.

Kenrich Williams contributed five points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Luguentz Dort scored six points and made two three-pointers.

Isaiah Hartenstein contributed four points and five rebounds in 22 minutes.

These performances show that Oklahoma City did not rely exclusively on its leading scorer.

The Thunder had several players who contributed in different ways.

Peyton Watson Leads Denver

Peyton Watson was Denver’s leading scorer with 29 points.

His performance deserves significant attention because he was extremely efficient from both the field and the three-point line.

Statistic Peyton Watson
Minutes 37
Points 29
Field Goals 11-17
Three-Pointers 5-7
Free Throws 2-4
Rebounds 5
Assists 3
Turnovers 4
Steals 1
Blocks 1
Plus/Minus -9

Watson made 11 of 17 field-goal attempts.

That equals a field-goal percentage of 64.7%.

He also made five of seven three-point attempts, or 71.4%.

Those are excellent shooting numbers.

Yet Denver still lost by 10.

This is one of the clearest lessons from the denver nuggets vs okc thunder match player stats. A strong individual shooting performance does not automatically produce a team victory.

Watson’s 29 points represented more than a quarter of Denver’s total scoring.

He was clearly one of the team’s most effective offensive players.

However, Oklahoma City had multiple players capable of creating efficient offense.

Nikola Jokic’s All-Around Contribution

Nikola Jokic finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists.

His full line was:

Statistic Nikola Jokic
Minutes 29
Points 16
Field Goals 6-9
Three-Pointers 1-2
Free Throws 3-4
Rebounds 7
Assists 8
Turnovers 6
Steals 1
Blocks 0
Plus/Minus -7

Jokic shot 6-of-9 from the field.

That is 66.7%.

His eight assists also demonstrated his role as a primary creator.

But six turnovers were a major negative.

Turnovers matter because they end possessions without a scoring attempt. Against an aggressive team like Oklahoma City, lost possessions can quickly become points for the opponent.

Jokic’s passing remained one of Denver’s strongest elements.

The Nuggets finished with 29 assists overall, six more than Oklahoma City.

However, the team also had 17 turnovers.

That balance is important when analyzing Denver’s offensive performance.

Jamal Murray’s Playmaking Versus Shooting

Jamal Murray produced an unusual statistical profile.

He scored only 12 points, but he recorded 12 assists.

Statistic Jamal Murray
Minutes 35
Points 12
Field Goals 4-16
Three-Pointers 1-8
Free Throws 3-4
Rebounds 5
Assists 12
Turnovers 1
Steals 1
Blocks 1
Plus/Minus -13

Murray’s 12 assists were tied for the highest assist total by a Denver player in the game.

His one turnover was also encouraging from a ball-security perspective.

The problem was his shooting.

He made only 4 of 16 field-goal attempts.

His three-point shooting was even less effective, with only one make on eight attempts.

That means Murray generated considerable value as a passer but struggled as a scorer.

Denver needed more scoring efficiency from its perimeter attack, especially against a Thunder team that made 19 three-pointers.

Denver’s Bench Production

Denver received 41 points from its listed bench players.

Jonas Valanciunas was especially productive.

He scored 13 points in 13 minutes while shooting 6-of-11.

Bruce Brown added nine points, three rebounds, and one assist.

Julian Strawther scored nine points and contributed four rebounds and three assists.

Tim Hardaway Jr. scored three points but collected six rebounds, three steals, and one block.

Hunter Tyson scored five points in only three minutes.

DaRon Holmes II added two points.

Zeke Nnaji finished with no points.

The bench numbers show that Denver had useful secondary contributors, but the production was uneven.

Complete Oklahoma City Player Stats

The following table summarizes the Thunder’s individual production from the game.

Player MIN PTS FG 3PT FT REB AST TO STL BLK +/-
Isaiah Hartenstein 22 4 2-4 0-0 0-0 5 1 3 1 0 +4
Chet Holmgren 28 14 3-10 1-7 7-8 4 1 1 0 3 +10
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 33 34 11-16 1-2 11-13 5 13 4 2 1 +22
Luguentz Dort 32 6 2-9 2-6 0-0 4 1 1 0 0 +16
Cason Wallace 30 27 9-14 7-11 2-3 6 0 0 2 0 +14
Jaylin Williams 24 8 3-5 2-3 0-0 5 4 1 3 1 +7
Brooks Barnhizer 3 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 -8
Ousmane Dieng 3 0 0-3 0-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 -8
Kenrich Williams 18 5 2-6 0-2 1-1 2 2 1 2 0 -6
Isaiah Joe 23 9 3-9 3-9 0-0 2 1 1 0 0 -7
Aaron Wiggins 25 14 5-9 3-6 1-2 6 0 1 2 1 +6

The standout statistical profile belongs to Gilgeous-Alexander, but Wallace’s shooting was almost as important.

The Thunder also received six rebounds each from Wallace and Wiggins.

That helped Oklahoma City finish with 39 total rebounds.

Complete Denver Player Stats

Here is the corresponding Denver player breakdown.

Player MIN PTS FG 3PT FT REB AST TO STL BLK +/-
Spencer Jones 28 6 2-2 2-2 0-0 2 0 1 1 0 -22
Nikola Jokic 29 16 6-9 1-2 3-4 7 8 6 1 0 -7
Jamal Murray 35 12 4-16 1-8 3-4 5 12 1 1 1 -13
Jalen Pickett 18 7 3-3 1-1 0-0 2 1 1 0 0 -9
Peyton Watson 37 29 11-17 5-7 2-4 5 3 4 1 1 -9
Hunter Tyson 3 5 1-1 1-1 2-2 1 0 0 0 0 +7
Zeke Nnaji 3 0 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 0 0 +7
DaRon Holmes II 3 2 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 +7
Jonas Valanciunas 13 13 6-11 1-2 0-0 3 2 2 0 1 -8
Tim Hardaway Jr. 25 3 0-6 0-4 3-4 6 0 1 3 1 -6
Bruce Brown 22 9 2-6 2-4 3-4 3 0 0 0 0 +1
Julian Strawther 22 9 3-6 2-4 1-2 4 3 1 2 0 +2

Watson was Denver’s leading scorer, while Jokic and Murray handled much of the playmaking responsibility.

Team Statistical Comparison

The team numbers provide a useful summary of the matchup.

Category Thunder Nuggets
Points 121 111
Field Goals 40-85 39-79
FG Percentage 47% 49%
Three-Pointers 19-48 16-35
3PT Percentage 40% 46%
Free Throws 22-27 17-24
FT Percentage 81% 71%
Rebounds 39 39
Assists 23 29
Turnovers 13 17
Steals 12 9
Blocks 6 4

The comparison reveals several important points.

Denver Shot Better From the Field

Denver’s 49% field-goal percentage was better than Oklahoma City’s 47%.

Denver also shot 46% from three-point range compared with Oklahoma City’s 40%.

So the Thunder did not win because they were simply more accurate.

Oklahoma City Attempted More Threes

The Thunder attempted 48 three-pointers.

Denver attempted 35.

That is a difference of 13 attempts.

Even though Denver had the better three-point percentage, Oklahoma City’s larger volume helped produce three additional made three-pointers.

Those extra long-range makes contributed to the final scoring advantage.

Oklahoma City Won the Turnover Battle

This may be one of the most important statistical differences.

Oklahoma City committed 13 turnovers.

Denver committed 17.

That gave the Thunder a four-turnover advantage.

Against a team capable of converting defensive pressure into transition opportunities, those extra possessions can be valuable.

Rebounding Was Even

Both teams finished with 39 rebounds.

That means the game was not decided by a major rebounding advantage.

The focus therefore shifts toward shooting volume, turnovers, free throws, and individual shot creation.

What the Plus/Minus Numbers Tell Us

Plus/minus measures the net point difference while a player is on the court.

For Oklahoma City, Gilgeous-Alexander led the starters at +22.

Dort was +16.

Wallace was +14.

Holmgren was +10.

Hartenstein was +4.

For Denver, the starting lineup was mostly negative.

Spencer Jones finished at -22.

Murray was -13.

Jokic was -7.

Pickett was -9.

Watson was -9.

However, plus/minus should always be read alongside the rest of the box score.

It does not tell us why the margin changed.

For example, a player’s plus/minus can be influenced by the lineups surrounding him, opponent lineups, and the timing of his minutes.

In this game, though, the numbers broadly support the overall result.

Oklahoma City’s starters were all positive.

Denver’s starters were all negative.

That is a meaningful team-level signal.

Free Throws Created Another Difference

The Thunder made 22 free throws.

Denver made 17.

That is a five-point difference.

Oklahoma City also shot 81% from the line.

Denver shot 71%.

Gilgeous-Alexander was a major part of that advantage, making 11 of 13 free throws.

Chet Holmgren also converted seven of eight.

Free throws can be especially important in close games, but their value extends beyond the final minutes.

They provide scoring opportunities without requiring a made field goal.

In this matchup, Oklahoma City’s stronger free-throw production helped compensate for Denver’s higher overall field-goal percentage.

The Role of Ball Security

Denver’s 17 turnovers were another major issue.

Jokic accounted for six.

Watson had four.

Murray had only one, which was strong considering his 12 assists.

The Thunder also had four turnovers from Gilgeous-Alexander.

However, Oklahoma City finished with only 13 turnovers overall.

The four-turnover difference was enough to give the Thunder a meaningful possession advantage.

Ball security becomes especially important when both teams are relatively efficient shooters.

A missed shot gives the defense a chance to rebound.

A turnover removes the shot opportunity entirely.

That distinction matters when analyzing why Denver lost despite shooting 49% from the field.

The Matchup’s Most Important Statistical Lessons

Several lessons stand out from the denver nuggets vs okc thunder match player stats.

1. Efficiency Alone Does Not Decide a Game

Denver shot 49% from the field.

Oklahoma City shot 47%.

Yet the Thunder won by 10.

This demonstrates why field-goal percentage should never be evaluated alone.

Three-point volume, free throws, turnovers, and shot attempts all influence scoring.

2. Star Playmaking Matters

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 34 points and 13 assists.

Jokic had eight assists.

Murray had 12.

Denver actually had more total assists, but Oklahoma City’s leading scorer created both his own offense and opportunities for teammates.

3. Wallace Changed the Offensive Balance

Wallace’s 27 points were crucial.

His seven three-pointers forced Denver’s defense to respect another perimeter threat.

That prevented Oklahoma City from becoming overly dependent on Gilgeous-Alexander.

4. Denver Needed More From Murray as a Scorer

Murray’s 12 assists were valuable.

But 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting created a difficult offensive balance.

His one-of-eight three-point shooting was particularly costly.

5. Turnovers Were More Important Than Rebounding

Both teams had 39 rebounds.

The rebounding battle was completely even.

The turnover battle was not.

Oklahoma City committed four fewer turnovers.

That distinction helped separate the teams.

Season Series Context

The supplied season-series data shows that Oklahoma City led the matchup 1-0 after this February 2 game.

The complete series listed in the data was:

Game Date Result
Game 1 February 2, 2026 OKC 121, DEN 111
Game 2 February 28, 2026 DEN 127, OKC 121, OT
Game 3 March 10, 2026 DEN 129, OKC 126
Game 4 April 11, 2026 OKC 127, DEN 107

The later results show that the February meeting was only the beginning of a competitive season series.

Denver responded with two victories, including an overtime win.

Oklahoma City then finished the listed series with another decisive victory on April 11.

That broader context makes the February 2 game more interesting because neither team completely controlled the season series from start to finish.

Notable Injury Information

Ousmane Dieng was listed as unavailable because of a right adductor strain.

He played only three minutes in the supplied box score before finishing with zero points.

His line was:

Statistic Ousmane Dieng
Minutes 3
Points 0
Field Goals 0-3
Three-Pointers 0-2
Rebounds 0
Assists 0
Turnovers 0
Steals 0
Blocks 0
Plus/Minus -8

Because his playing time was extremely limited, his individual statistics should not be treated as representative of the team’s overall bench performance.

How to Read These Player Stats Correctly

A box score can look simple, but good analysis requires more than identifying the highest scorer.

When reviewing a game like this, consider the following order:

  1. Start with the final score and quarter-by-quarter scoring.
  2. Compare field-goal and three-point efficiency.
  3. Check three-point attempt volume.
  4. Review free-throw production.
  5. Compare turnovers.
  6. Examine assists alongside turnovers.
  7. Identify the leading scorers.
  8. Check rebounds and defensive statistics.
  9. Review plus/minus for lineup-level context.
  10. Look for unusual performances that explain the result.

Using that approach makes the denver nuggets vs okc thunder match player stats much easier to understand.

The goal is not simply to find who scored the most.

The goal is to understand how individual performances combined to produce the final result.

Official Basketball Information

For readers who want additional league-level context, official NBA information can be checked through the NBA official website.

The official league source is useful for checking schedules, standings, team information, and broader NBA statistics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was the leading scorer for the Thunder?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 34 points. He also recorded 13 assists, five rebounds, two steals, and one block.

Who led the Nuggets in scoring?

Peyton Watson led Denver with 29 points. He shot 11-of-17 from the field and made five of seven three-point attempts.

What was the final score between Denver and Oklahoma City?

Oklahoma City defeated Denver 121-111 on February 2, 2026, at Ball Arena.

Who had the most assists in the game?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded the most assists with 13. Jamal Murray led Denver with 12 assists.

Which player made the most three-pointers?

Cason Wallace made seven three-pointers on 11 attempts. He finished with 27 points.

How many rebounds did each team have?

Both Oklahoma City and Denver finished with 39 rebounds.

Conclusion

The denver nuggets vs okc thunder match player stats show why Oklahoma City won despite Denver posting better overall field-goal and three-point percentages.

The Thunder created separation through a combination of high three-point volume, stronger free-throw production, fewer turnovers, and outstanding individual performances.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the game’s most complete offensive player with 34 points and 13 assists. Cason Wallace provided a major scoring boost with 27 points and seven three-pointers. Chet Holmgren added three blocks, while Aaron Wiggins and Jaylin Williams supplied useful contributions from the supporting cast.

Denver had its own standout performance from Peyton Watson, who scored 29 points on highly efficient shooting. Nikola Jokic remained productive as a passer and rebounder, while Jamal Murray created 12 assists. However, Denver’s 17 turnovers and Murray’s 4-of-16 shooting made the offensive burden harder to manage.

The 39-39 rebounding result shows that the game was not decided on the glass. Instead, the decisive factors were possession management, scoring volume, free throws, and Oklahoma City’s ability to generate production from multiple players.

Ultimately, the 121-111 result was supported by the underlying numbers. Oklahoma City did not need to dominate every statistical category. It simply won enough important categories to build an advantage that Denver could not erase.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *