Key Takeaways

• Jalen Williams contributed 21 points for the Thunder, providing a scoring spark to offset Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander's uneven night.
• Chet Holmgren posted 12 points and 17 rebounds, delivering a strong all-around effort on the glass and in the paint.
• Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 17 points on 6-for-19 shooting, and his misses in the first 24 minutes prevented him from reaching 20 in a game for the first time in 141 games.
• The Nuggets opened their season with 13 points from Jokic and DeRozan each, and Aaron Gordon added 20, as Denver kept the game competitive early.
• Oklahoma City pulled ahead late in the third quarter after a 3-pointer by Caruso and another by Alexander, moving the score to 70-64.
• The Thunder built a 93-76 advantage after a 3 by Gilgeous-Alexander with 1:44 remaining, before he left the game for good following a timeout.
• Denver resumes play with a trip to New Orleans on Saturday, while Oklahoma City hosts the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.