MIAMI (AFP) — The Denver Nuggets’ six-game winning streak came to an end on Friday with the defending National Basketball Association champions failing to a 119-93 loss at home to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points for the Thunder, shooting 14 of 20 from the field and making 10 out of 10 free throws.
The win moves the Thunder above the Nuggets into second place in the West on 21-9, behind leaders Minnesota (23-7).
The Nuggets’ Serbian star Nikola Jokic made 19 points shooting nine of 10 from the field and had ten rebounds but gave up seven turnovers.
The Thunder led 54-48 at the break and extended their lead to 20 points by the end of the third quarter.
It was the fifth time this season that Gilgeous-Alexander enjoyed a 40-point game and he said it was a “super fun” performance.
“We have so many weapons on the floor that I get to play in space and when I play in space, in my comfort zone, I have pretty good nights,” he said.
Giannis Antetokounmpo top scored with 34 points as the Milwaukee Bucks, second in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, came back to win 119-111 at the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Bucks trailed 59-52 down at half-time but dominated the third quarter to end a four-game road trip with a 3-1 record.
Antetokounmpo shot 14 of 22 from the field and grabbed 16 rebounds and five assists — and he was well supported by Damian Lillard, who scored 31 points and converted all 11 of his free throws.
Lillard said Milwaukee (24-8) had faced up to their slow start during frank exchanges during the interval.
“We came into the locker room and we just kind of addressed that we hadn’t done a lot of things well,” said Lillard, who scored 24 of his points in the second half.
