Context:

In a historic NBA playoff game, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Denver Nuggets with a staggering score of 149-106, making it one of the biggest blowouts in playoff history. The Thunder had an impressive regular season with a 68-14 record, while the Nuggets finished with a solid 50-32 record. Oklahoma City's relentless performance was highlighted by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's record-setting +51 plus/minus rating. The Thunder's offensive prowess was evident as they scored 87 points by halftime, tying the record for most points in a playoff half. Conversely, Denver struggled significantly, with Nikola Jokic fouling out and recording a career-worst -36 plus/minus rating, contributing to the lopsided defeat.

Dive Deeper:

• Oklahoma City Thunder's 149-106 victory over the Denver Nuggets ranks as the 15th largest point differential in NBA playoff history, showcasing their dominant performance.

• The Thunder had a remarkable regular-season record of 68-14, the best in the NBA, while the Nuggets had a respectable 50-32 season, yet faced a severe defeat in this playoff game.

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played a key role in the Thunder's victory with a +51 plus/minus, the highest ever recorded in an NBA playoff game, underscoring his impact.

• Oklahoma City scored a record-tying 87 points in the first half, demonstrating their offensive strength and setting the pace for the rest of the game.

• Denver's struggles were highlighted by Nikola Jokic's foul-out in the third quarter and a career-worst -36 plus/minus, further exacerbating the team's tough night.

• Statistically, the Thunder outperformed the Nuggets with a shooting percentage of 56.2% from the field, 44.4% from three-point range, and 91.7% from the free-throw line.

• The game was marred by Denver's 20 turnovers compared to Oklahoma City's nine, highlighting the disparity in ball control and execution between the two teams.

• The NBA playoffs are supposed to be pitting the best competition in the league against each other, especially the deeper we get in the postseason. Still, sometimes even good teams have a bad day. 

• The Thunder finished the regular season with a 68-14 record, which cemented OKC not only with the best record in the Western Conference but also the best record in the entire NBA. Denver didn't have a bad season by any means, finishing 50-32, but on Wednesday night, it looked like Oklahoma City was taking on one of the worst teams in the league from how lopsided the 149-106 final score was. 

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• The Thunder got out to an early lead and never let up. Oklahoma City went into the break up 87-56, scoring the most first-half points in a playoff game in NBA history and tying the record for points scored in any playoff half in history. The Thunder didn't let up from there. One stat to show how lopsided things were: OKC had 31 assists; Denver only made 33 field goals. 

• Nuggets star Nikola Jokic fouled out late in the third quarter, which just further stacked the deck against Denver. It was only the fourth time in his playoff career that Jokic fouled out, something he has only done once in the regular season since 2019-20. To add insult to injury, he did so with a career-worst -36 plus/minus. 

• On the flip side, fellow MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a +51 mark, the highest ever for any player in a postseason game. 

• Here's where the Thunder's blowout win over the Nuggets ranks among the all-time biggest blowouts in NBA playoff history. 

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• Biggest blowouts in NBA playoff history

  Rank	Year	Series	Game	Point Margin
  1.	2009	West First Round	Nuggets 121, Hornets 63	58
  	1956	West Semifinals	Lakers 133, Hawks 75	58
  3.	1973	West Finals	Lakers 126, Warriors 70	56
  4.	2025	East First Round	Cavaliers 128, Heat 73	55
  5.	2015	East First Round	Bulls 120, Bucks 66	54
  6.	2025	West First Round	Thunder 131, Grizzlies 80	51
  7.	1971	West Semifinals	Bucks 136, Warriors 86	50
  8.	1995	East First Round	Magic 124, Celtics 77	47
  	1986	West First Round	Lakers 135, Spurs 88	47
  10.	2024	West Second Round	Timberwolves 115, Nuggets 70	45
  11.	2017	East Finals	Cavaliers 130, Celtics 86	44
  	1997	West First Round	SuperSonics 122, Suns 78	44
  	1985	West Finals	Lakers 153, Nuggets 109	44
  	1958	West Finals	Hawks 145, Pistons 101	44
  15.	2025	West Semifinals	Thunder 149, Nuggets 106	43
  	2020	West First Round	Clippers 154, Mavericks 111	43
  	2010	East Semifinals	Magic 114, Hawks 71	43
  	1987	East First Round	Pistons 128, Bullets 85	43
  	1984	West Semifinals	Lakers 134, Mavericks 91	43
  20.	1998	NBA Finals	Bulls 96, Jazz 54	42
  21.	2018	West Finals	Warriors 126, Rockets 85	41
  	1991	East First Round	Bulls 126, Knicks 85	41
  23.	2014	West First Round	Clippers 138, Warriors 98	40
  	2009	West Semifinals	Lakers 118, Rockets 78	40
  	2005	West First Round	Mavericks 116, Rockets 76	40
  	1983	West Semifinals	Spurs 145, Nuggets 105	40
  	1982	East Finals	Celtics 121, 76ers 81	40
  	1978	East Semifinals	76ers 130, Knicks 90	40
  	1969	West Semifinals	Lakers 118, Warriors 78	40

  In the end, the Thunder won 149-106. The win ranked tied for 15th for the biggest point differentials in NBA playoff history. On top of that, Oklahoma City scored the 10th-most points in an NBA playoff game in history, just eight points behind the Celtics 157-point mark set in 1990.

• Thunder vs. Nuggets Game 2 stats

  Thunder

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander -- 34 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists. +51 plus/minus (NBA record for best-ever plus/minus in a playoff game)
  • Chet Holmgren -- 15 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists. +34 plus/minus
  • Jalen Williams -- 17 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists.  +23 plus/minus
  • Isaiah Hartenstein -- 14 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists. +19 plus/minus
  • Luguentz Dort -- 12 points, 1 rebound, 0 assists. +34 plus/minus
  Oklahoma City shot 50-of-89 from the field (56.2%), 16-of-36 from 3 (44.4%), and 33-of-36 from the line (91.7%). 

• Nuggets

  • Nikola Jokic -- 17 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists. -36 plus/minus (his lowest in any NBA game he has played)
  • Jamal Murray -- 14 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist. -34 plus/minus
  • Michael Porter Jr. -- 8 points, 5 rebounds, 0 assists. -25 plus/minus
  • Aaron Gordon -- 10 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist. -36 plus/minus
  • Christian Braun -- 3 points, 2 rebounds, 0 assists. -40 plus/minus
  • Russell Westbrook -- 19 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists. -30 plus/minus
  Denver shot 33-of-87 from the field (37.9%), 15-of-37 from deep (40.5%), and 25-of-32 (78.1%) from the line. They committed 20 turnovers compared to just nine from OKC.