Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points in three quarters, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a record-setting 149-106 rout of the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, leveling the Western Conference semifinals at 1-1. The Thunder set an NBA playoff record with 87 first-half points, surpassing the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 86 (2017 NBA Finals).
Chet Holmgren hit two free throws with one second left in the second quarter to set the record (87-56), tying the mark for most points in any playoff half (Milwaukee, 1978). “Only one team played tonight,” said Denver’s Nikola Jokić, who dropped to 17 points and 8 rebounds after a 42-point, 22-rebound Game 1, fouling out in the third.
Gilgeous-Alexander shot 11/13 from the field, 11/11 from the line, and added 8 assists, with eight Thunder players scoring in double figures. “He made them pay when they overhelped,” said coach Mark Daigneault. The Thunder led 45-21 after the first quarter (71.4% shooting) and 124-76 after three, peaking at a 49-point lead. Russell Westbrook led the Nuggets with 19 points but faced boos from Thunder fans.
