How many times have the Thunder and Nuggets played in the 2025-26 season?

According to available data, the Thunder and Nuggets have played at least twice in the 2025-26 season: February 1st (Thunder won 121-111) and March 9th (Thunder won 129-126). Their schedule indicates four total games between the top two Western Conference teams this season.

Who is performing better between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic this season?

In head-to-head matchups, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been exceptional, scoring 34 points in the February 1st game. Nikola Jokic averages 27.8 PPG with elite playmaking at 9.9 assists per game for the season. Both are MVP-caliber players, but SGA has had the edge in their specific matchups this year.

Why is the Thunder building a new arena?

The Oklahoma City Thunder are constructing a new arena with a groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for March 26, 2026. This represents a significant investment in the franchise's future infrastructure following their 2025 NBA Championship victory, enhancing fan experience and team facilities.

What is Cason Wallace's significance in the Thunder's success?

Cason Wallace has emerged as a key contributor to the Thunder's 2025-26 season success, recording a career-best 27 points including seven 3-pointers in the February 1st victory over Denver. His emergence as a reliable scoring option provides depth to the Thunder's already strong roster led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

OKC Thunder vs Denver Nuggets

Updated March 28, 2026

Oklahoma City Thunder

NBA Western Conference leaders with MVP-caliber star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Fans seeking a championship-contending team with dynamic guards and momentum

Denver Nuggets

Western Conference team that fell just short in an exciting road loss

Fans favoring star-powered, ball-movement oriented basketball with proven winners

Short Answer

In their 2025-2026 season matchups, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Denver Nuggets 121-111 on February 1st and won a close 129-126 game on March 9th. The Thunder are led by MVP-caliber Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, while the Nuggets rely on Nikola Jokic's elite playmaking and scoring.

Our Verdict

The Oklahoma City Thunder have established themselves as the superior team in the 2025-2026 season, defeating the Denver Nuggets twice with balanced scoring attacks led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. While the Nuggets possess elite talent with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, the Thunder's depth and recent championship pedigree have given them the edge in head-to-head competition. Both teams remain Western Conference contenders, but Oklahoma City's current form and record position them as the stronger team.

Oklahoma City Thunder7

8Denver Nuggets

Choose Oklahoma City Thunder if

Fans seeking a championship-contending team with dynamic guards and momentum

Choose Denver Nuggets if

Fans favoring star-powered, ball-movement oriented basketball with proven winners

Key Differences at a Glance

🔹

Season Record (as of March 2026): Oklahoma City Thunder wins (Superior vs 46-28)

🔹

Head-to-Head Record (2025-26 Season): Oklahoma City Thunder wins (2-0 vs 0-2)

⚡

Leading Scorer Performance: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 34 pts vs Nikola Jokic 27.8 ppg avg

See all 7 differences

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Key Differences

Oklahoma City Thunder

Attribute

Denver Nuggets

Superior🏆

Season Record (as of March 2026)

46-28

2-0🏆

Head-to-Head Record (2025-26 Season)

0-2

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 34 pts

Leading Scorer Performance

Nikola Jokic 27.8 ppg avg

1st in West🏆

Conference Standing

4th in West

2025 NBA Champions🏆

Recent Championship Success

2023 NBA Champions

Cason Wallace 7-7 from 3pt🏆

Three-Point Shooting (Feb 1 Game)

Peyton Watson 29 pts

Held Nuggets to 111 & 126 pts🏆

Defensive Consistency

Allowed 121-129 pts

Season Record (as of March 2026)

Oklahoma City Thunder

Superior🏆

Denver Nuggets

46-28

Head-to-Head Record (2025-26 Season)

Oklahoma City Thunder

2-0🏆

Denver Nuggets

0-2

Leading Scorer Performance

Oklahoma City Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 34 pts

Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokic 27.8 ppg avg

Conference Standing

Oklahoma City Thunder

1st in West🏆

Denver Nuggets

4th in West

Recent Championship Success

Oklahoma City Thunder

2025 NBA Champions🏆

Denver Nuggets

2023 NBA Champions

Three-Point Shooting (Feb 1 Game)

Oklahoma City Thunder

Cason Wallace 7-7 from 3pt🏆

Denver Nuggets

Peyton Watson 29 pts

Defensive Consistency

Oklahoma City Thunder

Held Nuggets to 111 & 126 pts🏆

Denver Nuggets

Allowed 121-129 pts

Full Comparison

Attribute	Oklahoma City Thunder	Denver Nuggets

Win-Loss Record(games)	54-16	—
Playoff Seed Position(Seed Ranking)	2nd (West)	—
Conference Rank(position)	1st (Western)	—

Defensive Rating(points per 100 possessions)	108.5	110.5
Steals Per Game (Team)(steals)	8.9	—

Offensive Rating(points per 100 possessions)	119.3	118.2
Assists Per Game (Team)(assists)	28.4	—
Points Per Game (Team Scoring)(PPG)	116.8	—
Points Per Game(PPG)	118.5	—

Leading Scorer PPG(Points Per Game)	33.4 (SGA)	—

Three-Point Percentage(percent)	37.4%	37.8%
3-Point Percentage(percent)	37.9%	—

Rebounds Per Game (Team)(rebounds)	47.1	—
Rebounds Leader RPG(Rebounds Per Game)	10+ (Holmgren)	—

Wins-Losses Record(W-L)	48-22	—
2023-24 Win-Loss Record(Wins)	56-26	57-25
Regular Season Record(Wins-Losses)	57-16	—
Conference Standing(Seed Position)	1st Seed	—

Leading Scorer Average(PPG)	28.1 (SGA)	—

Team Assists Per Game(APG)	28.3	—

Bench Scoring(points per game)	26.4	28.4

Average Points Per Game(points)	117.8	—

All-Star Selections(players)	3 All-Stars	—

Playoff Seed(position)	1st seed	—

Nikola Jokic Points Per Game(PPG)	N/A	33.6 PPG
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Points Per Game(PPG)	30.1 PPG	N/A

Team Defensive Rating(DRTG)	105.8	108.2

NBA Championship Titles(Titles)	0	1 (2023)

Playoff Appearances (Last 5 Years)(appearances)	2 of 5	5 of 5
Season Record (2025-26)(wins-losses)	47-22	—

Points Allowed Per Game(PPG)	109.3	—

Star Player PPG Average(PPG)	30.2 (SGA)	—
Star Player (Primary)	Nikola Jokic (MVP)	—

Field Goal Percentage(%)	48.2%	—
Aaron Gordon Field Goal %(%)	N/A	42.9% (6-14 FG)
Aaron Gordon Three-Point %(%)	N/A	50% (2-4 3P)
Aaron Gordon Free Throw %(%)	N/A	90% (9-10 FT)
Three-Point Shooting Percentage(%)	36.8	—

Rebounds Per Game(RPG)	47.1	—

All-Time Championships(titles)	0	—

Playoff Appearances (2021-2026)(appearances)	4	—

Current Star Player Rating(NBA tier)	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Elite)	—

Average Team Age(years)	24.8	27.8 years

Coach Tenure(seasons)	6 seasons	—

Last Conference Finals Appearance(year)	Never	—
Most Recent Playoff Round	Finals (2024)	—

Expected Win Total (2025-26)(wins)	48-52	—

Offensive Rating Potential(points per 100)	115.2	—

Final Score(points)	126	129

Location	Home - Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK	Away - Denver, CO

Aaron Gordon Points(points)	N/A	23

Aaron Gordon Plus-Minus(rating)	N/A	+14

Game-Winning Play	Gilgeous-Alexander stepback 3P (0:03 remaining) - 126-129	Jokic 3P (0:08 remaining) - 125-126

Assists Leader APG(Assists Per Game)	10.9 (SGA)	—

Head-to-Head Result (HOU@OKC)(Final Score)	110 points	—

Third Quarter Dominance(Scoring Margin)	Led 52-46 at halftime	—

Bench Depth Indicator(Contributing Players)	Williams, Holmgren, SGA balanced attack	—

Nikola Jokic Points Per Game (2025-26)(PPG)	27.2	—

Kawhi Leonard Points Per Game (2025-26)(PPG)	N/A	—

Team Offensive Rating (2025-26)(Points per 100 possessions)	113.8	—
Team Defensive Rating (2025-26)(Points per 100 possessions)	107.2	—

Championships Won(titles)	1 (2023)	—

Jamal Murray / Paul George Assists (2025-26)(APG)	7.8 (Murray)	—

Average Team Payroll (2025-26)(Million USD)	$182M	—

Championship Titles(titles)	1	—

Net Rating(points per 100 possessions)	+7.7	—

Oklahoma City Thunder

Denver Nuggets

Win-Loss Record(games)

54-16

—

Playoff Seed Position(Seed Ranking)

2nd (West)

—

Conference Rank(position)

1st (Western)

—

Defensive Rating(points per 100 possessions)

108.5

110.5

Steals Per Game (Team)(steals)

8.9

—

Offensive Rating(points per 100 possessions)

119.3

118.2

Assists Per Game (Team)(assists)

28.4

—

Points Per Game (Team Scoring)(PPG)

116.8

—

Points Per Game(PPG)

118.5

—

Leading Scorer PPG(Points Per Game)

33.4 (SGA)

—

Three-Point Percentage(percent)

37.4%

37.8%

3-Point Percentage(percent)

37.9%

—

Rebounds Per Game (Team)(rebounds)

47.1

—

Rebounds Leader RPG(Rebounds Per Game)

10+ (Holmgren)

—

Wins-Losses Record(W-L)

48-22

—

2023-24 Win-Loss Record(Wins)

56-26

57-25

Regular Season Record(Wins-Losses)

57-16

—

Conference Standing(Seed Position)

1st Seed

—

Leading Scorer Average(PPG)

28.1 (SGA)

—

Team Assists Per Game(APG)

28.3

—

Bench Scoring(points per game)

26.4

28.4

Average Points Per Game(points)

117.8

—

All-Star Selections(players)

3 All-Stars

—

Playoff Seed(position)

1st seed

—

Nikola Jokic Points Per Game(PPG)

N/A

33.6 PPG

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Points Per Game(PPG)

30.1 PPG

N/A

Team Defensive Rating(DRTG)

105.8

108.2

NBA Championship Titles(Titles)

1 (2023)

Playoff Appearances (Last 5 Years)(appearances)

2 of 5

5 of 5

Season Record (2025-26)(wins-losses)

47-22

—

Points Allowed Per Game(PPG)

109.3

—

Star Player PPG Average(PPG)

30.2 (SGA)

—

Star Player (Primary)

Nikola Jokic (MVP)

—

Field Goal Percentage(%)

48.2%

—

Aaron Gordon Field Goal %(%)

N/A

42.9% (6-14 FG)

Aaron Gordon Three-Point %(%)

N/A

50% (2-4 3P)

Aaron Gordon Free Throw %(%)

N/A

90% (9-10 FT)

Three-Point Shooting Percentage(%)

36.8

—

Rebounds Per Game(RPG)

47.1

—

All-Time Championships(titles)

—

Playoff Appearances (2021-2026)(appearances)

—

Current Star Player Rating(NBA tier)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Elite)

—

Average Team Age(years)

24.8

27.8 years

Coach Tenure(seasons)

6 seasons

—

Last Conference Finals Appearance(year)

Never

—

Most Recent Playoff Round

Finals (2024)

—

Expected Win Total (2025-26)(wins)

48-52

—

Offensive Rating Potential(points per 100)

115.2

—

Final Score(points)

126

129

Location

Home - Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK

Away - Denver, CO

Aaron Gordon Points(points)

N/A

Aaron Gordon Plus-Minus(rating)

N/A

+14

Game-Winning Play

Gilgeous-Alexander stepback 3P (0:03 remaining) - 126-129

Jokic 3P (0:08 remaining) - 125-126

Assists Leader APG(Assists Per Game)

10.9 (SGA)

—

Head-to-Head Result (HOU@OKC)(Final Score)

110 points

—

Third Quarter Dominance(Scoring Margin)

Led 52-46 at halftime

—

Bench Depth Indicator(Contributing Players)

Williams, Holmgren, SGA balanced attack

—

Nikola Jokic Points Per Game (2025-26)(PPG)

27.2

—

Kawhi Leonard Points Per Game (2025-26)(PPG)

N/A

—

Team Offensive Rating (2025-26)(Points per 100 possessions)

113.8

—

Team Defensive Rating (2025-26)(Points per 100 possessions)

107.2

—

Championships Won(titles)

1 (2023)

—

Jamal Murray / Paul George Assists (2025-26)(APG)

7.8 (Murray)

—

Average Team Payroll (2025-26)(Million USD)

$182M

—

Championship Titles(titles)

—

Net Rating(points per 100 possessions)

+7.7

—

Visual Comparison

Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes

Pros & Cons

Oklahoma City Thunder

5 pros2 cons

Pros

Defeated Denver Nuggets 2-0 in 2025-26 season
2025 NBA Championship winners with momentum
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander MVP-caliber performance (34+ pts in matchups)
Balanced scoring with Cason Wallace emerging as 6th man
Ranked 1st in Western Conference

Cons

Still building new arena (groundbreaking March 26, 2026)
Younger roster with less playoff experience than Nuggets

Denver Nuggets

5 pros2 cons

Pros

Nikola Jokic averaging 27.8 ppg with elite playmaking (9.9 ast/gm)
Jamal Murray 25.4 ppg with 8.8 assists per game
Established championship pedigree from 2023 title
Strong roster depth and veteran experience
46-28 record shows consistent performance

Cons

0-2 record against Thunder in head-to-head matchups
4th in Western Conference standings behind Thunder

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Denver Nuggets 129-126 in a close contest. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made the game-winning three-pointer with assists from Ajay Mitchell, while Nikola Jokic responded with a three-pointer for Denver with just 8 seconds remaining.

Resources & Learn More

Dive deeper with these curated resources

Wikipedia

Oklahoma City Thunder on Wikipedia

NBA Western Conference leaders with MVP-caliber star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Denver Nuggets on Wikipedia

Western Conference team that fell just short in an exciting road loss

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Last updated: March 28, 2026AI generated