Russell Westbrook scores 29, Nuggets hand OKC Thunder first loss of season

In what was supposed to be their first scheduled loss of the season, the Nuggets refused to accept that mark.

Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon were out with injuries. Against an undefeated opponent. An undefeated opponent that already crushed Denver at Ball Arena two weeks earlier on opening night. Somehow, the short-handed Nuggets roared back from down 16 in the second half to hand Oklahoma City its first loss of the season, 124-122.

Michael Porter Jr. overcame a 1-for-6 first half from the floor and scored 22 of his 24 points after the break. Nikola Jokic, who is averaging a triple-double, went for 23 points, 20 rebounds and 16 assists. Russell Westbrook sparked the comeback by growling at the crowd in the middle of his 29-point, 10-for-15 outing. Braun delivered 24 points and excellent defense against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

And for the fourth time, the Nuggets (5-3) won a game that came down to the final possession in regulation when Peyton Watson blocked Gilgeous-Alexander’s layup attempt as time expired. SGA finished with 28 points but eight turnovers.

“We talked to the people at Altitude TV and we’re just going to try to keep fans glued to their seats, keep the ratings up, and just kind of come back in the fourth quarter,” Michael Malone said before the game when asked about Denver’s trend. to fall behind early in games this season. “And let everyone go home with a smile on their face. We are entertainers, after all.”

“We’re trying to get better in situations late in the game; that’s why we’ve been missing free throws on purpose at the end,” Braun said. “And just keep it close. So we can improve those situations.”

He went on to remove his tongue from his cheek and say that Oklahoma City is a team Denver could not afford to fall behind against.

Then, for the fifth time in their first eight games, the Nuggets erased a deficit of 14 or more points to at least lead in the fourth quarter. The worst it got was 81-65 this time, at the 7:31 mark of the third, moments after Malone drew a live-ball technical foul to confront a referee about a no-call. His team closed the gap in less than four minutes, a 22-6 run that started with back-to-back 3-pointers from Westbrook and Braun and ended with back-to-back 3s from Julian Strawther and Porter. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault called three timeouts during the quarter.

The comeback was fueled by a stretch of 15 straight points, either scored or assisted by Westbrook.

“I think defensively he’s been a rock star,” Malone said. “And what I love about Russell Westbrook: 17-year-old vet, leopards don’t change their spots, but he tries so hard to be disciplined. He tries to do the things we ask of him, and I appreciate that so much .To many times, after 17 years, you are who you are. But he is so invested in this team and what he brings to this team. I can train a guy like Russell Westbrook every day.”

The Nuggets took Oklahoma City out of its rhythm throughout the game by trying a zone defense, occasionally blowing screens and most of all by sprinting for misses, desperate to avoid the Thunder’s half-court defense. They also maintained a refreshing early-season trend by getting to the free-throw line on 33 attempts, led by nine for Westbrook — though Watson missed a crucial pair at the end to give Oklahoma City a chance. Those foul shots had been set up by a reckless inbound pass from Jokic, over the top of multiple defenders.

“Not at all,” Malone said, feigning calm when asked if Jokic’s spur-of-the-moment decisions ever stress him out.