Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Stats Tonight: How did MVP runner-up perform against Nuggets?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the OKC Thunder began their 2024-25 NBA season on the road against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. The Thunder are looking to build upon the previous campaign, wherein they finished as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

SGA finished with a game-high 28 points with seven rebounds, eight assists, three steals and three blocks. It was an all-around game for the MVP runner-up as the Thunder defeated the Nuggets 102-87 at Ball Arena in Denver.

However, it was Chet Holmgren who stole the show on both ends of the floor. Holmgren had a monster double-double of 25 points and 14 rebounds plus five assists, two steals and four blocks against Nikola Jokic.

Here are SGA's stats in the first half:

Players	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	MIN	FG	3PT	FT	+/-
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	12	2	2	1	1	1	2	17:31	5-12	1-3	1-2	0

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How did Shai Gilgeous-Alexander perform against the Nuggets?

How did Shai Gilgeous-Alexander perform against the Nuggets? (Photo: IMAGN)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a quiet first half with 12 points, two rebounds and two assists, shooting 5-for-12, including 1-for-3 from beyond the arc. It was a solid performance from SGA as the Thunder built a 58-51 lead after the first two quarters against the Nuggets.

The Thunder were down early in the first quarter before making a run to end the period. They then started piling on the lead to start the second quarter and held on for the seven-point advantage at the half.

In the second half, the MVP runner-up took over and scored 16 points to give the Thunder their first win of the season. He was so good on both sides of the floor, torching the Nuggets offensively and then making things tight for players such as Jamal Murray on defense.

The chemistry was evident in how the Thunder performed, especially in the second half. Aaron Wiggins was big off the bench with 15 points, while Jalen Williams and Isaiah Joe hit timely shots when Denver was trying to make a run. They limited Nikola Jokic to just 16 points, but he still dropped a triple-double with 12 rebounds and 13 assists.

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What's next for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder?

The OKC Thunder started the season on the road and it will continue on Saturday when they visit the Chicago Bulls. It's a quick reunion with former Thunder player Josh Giddey, who was traded to the Bulls in the offseason for one-time NBA champion Alex Caruso.

Oklahoma City will see their Thunder for the first time this season on October 28 against the Atlanta Hawks. It will be the team's first back-to-back of the campaign, but their players are expected to play since it's their home opener.

It's a two-game homestand with the San Antonio Spurs coming on Oct. 30 before another two-game trip in Portland and Los Angeles to face the Blazers and Clippers, respectively.