Player grades: SGA makes NBA history in Thunder's 129-126 win over Nuggets

· Yahoo Sports

OKLAHOMA CITY — Catching the ball, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander quickly went to work before being swarmed by multiple Denver defenders. Spencer Jones had no hope on an island. The reigning MVP went with his patented stepback 3-pointer to swish in the game-winner.

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The Oklahoma City Thunder survived a thriller in a 129-126 win over the Denver Nuggets. Despite being down several of their best players, they outlasted their arch-rival for a third straight time this season.

Another certified banger between these two squads. A lot to dissect in this one. You can bet on getting a hardwood classic when the Thunder and Nuggets face off — ala the NBA's version of blockbusters like 'Avengers' and 'Star Wars' movies.

To start, let's set the scene. It felt like the Thunder were about to be handed a blowout. Things were ugly from the jump. It didn't take long for them to fall into a 21-8 deficit. Just five minutes in, Aaron Gordon looked like an NBA superstar with the number of buckets he was getting.

After a couple of timeouts, the Thunder finally settled down. They were in a 40-37 deficit after the first quarter. Considering how things started, you take that any day. Jaylin Williams and Ajay Mitchell helped them get back into it as they stepped up as scorers.

Specifically, Mitchell made up for lost time. He helped the Thunder roll over their momentum into the second frame. They had a 20-8 run to build up a double-digit cushion. Quite the turnaround from just an hour ago. The Nuggets responded with 10 consecutive games to keep it close.

The Thunder had 29 points in the second frame. Gilgeous-Alexander found Isaiah Joe for the corner 3-pointer at the buzzer. They entered halftime with a 66-60 lead.

Out of the break, the Nuggets leaned even harder to double Gilgeous-Alexander. Anytime he had the ball in his hands, they sent several defenders his way. His scoring gravity put the Thunder in some weird man advantages. A simple pass resulted in easy buckets.

The Thunder had 30 points in the third quarter. They held onto a 96-93 lead. In the frame, Gilgeous-Alexander made some NBA history as a pull-up 3-pointer put him above 20 points. Which meant he tied Wilt Chamberlain's record for most consecutive 20-point games at 126 in a row.

It was time to see if the Thunder can celebrate the milestone with a win. It stayed close throughout the final dozen minutes. Neither team led by more than four points until Joe's mid-range jumper put OKC ahead 116-111 with a little over three minutes left.

On their next possession, Gilgeous-Alexander added to their lead at the free-throw line. Up 118-111 with a little under three minutes left, the Thunder were in a good spot. Getting a big-time block on Gordon's layup, the reigning MVP's defensive stop led to Jared McCain's humongous outside jumper.

That put the Thunder in a 121-113 lead with two minutes left. Barring a couple of costly mistakes, they should be able to cross the finish line with the win. Well, about that. It kinda happened. The first disaster once again involved Lu Dort and Jokic. The two main characters of this year's OKC-Denver beef.

Smacking Jokic in the face, Dort was called for the physical foul that eventually upgraded to a flagrant. Yikes. The three-time MVP split his free-throw attempts. But he redeemed himself with an outside bucket. Just like that, Denver had a four-point possession to cut OKC's lead to 123-120 with 65 seconds left.

Jokic made it a 123-122 game with 31 seconds left. Analyzing the late-game situation, Gilgeous-Alexander had a one-on-one look with Christian Braun. He went with the signature stepback 3-pointer. Swish. Up 126-122 with 13 seconds left, it felt like the Thunder had slammed the door.

Alas, Williams — who was the Batman to Jokic's Joker — made the second costly mistake. Fighting over a screen to contest Jokic, he committed a huge error. As the three-time MVP winner's 3-pointer fell, Jamal Murray drew the foul. A review confirmed OKC's biggest fears — Denver had the chance of a four-point play to tie things up. The one thing they couldn't do in that situation.

Murray tied it up at the free-throw line. 126 points apiece, the Thunder had eight seconds to avoid overtime and a possible collapse. Gilgeous-Alexander penned the final sentence of his epic chapter when he sank another clutch-time 3-pointer. This time, it was the game-winner. They scored 33 points in the final frame to survive the Nuggets.

The Thunder shot 51% from the field and went 19-of-47 (40.4%) from 3. They shot 16-of-21 on free throws. They had 27 assists on 47 baskets. Five Thunder players scored double-digit points.

Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 35 points and 15 assists. Williams had one of his best games with 29 points and 12 rebounds. Mitchell dropped 24 points after a two-month absence. McCain and Joe each had 13 points.

Meanwhile, the Nuggets shot 46% from the field and went 15-of-37 (40.5%) from 3. They shot 21-of-29 on free throws. They had 29 assists on 45 baskets. Four Nuggets players scored double-digit points.

Jokic had a 32-point, 14-rebound and 13-assist triple-double. Gordon finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds. He cooled down after an unreal start. Murray gutted through an ankle injury with 21 points and eight rebounds. Tim Hardaway Jr. stepped up with 28 points off the bench.

Man. What a game. Definitely in the conversation for Game of the Year — just like any other time the Thunder and Nuggets share an NBA arena. Gilgeous-Alexander enjoyed a Disney-esque journey as he led his short-handed squad to an unlikely win over a healthy Denver. On the way there, he wrote his name next to an NBA icon and hit a game-winner.

The Thunder continue to find ways to get wins — regardless of who suits up. That's the DNA of a championship team that's been there and done that. Gilgeous-Alexander will grab all of the headlines — and deservingly so — but shoutout to Williams, Mitchell and others for playing up the part of their absent All-Star teammates.

Let's look at Thunder player grades:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: A-plus

Usually playing within the perimeter, Gilgeous-Alexander had some of the best buckets of his career from the outside. First, he tattooed his name next to Chamberlain with 126 games in a row with 20-plus points. Next, it looked like he hit the dagger on Braun in the final minute. And finally, he slammed the door and locked it with a stepback 3-point game-winner on Jones.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 35 points on 14-of-21 shooting, 15 assists and nine rebounds. He shot 3-of-7 from 3 and went 4-of-4 on free throws. He also had one block and one steal.

Down Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso, the Thunder had every reason to drop this one. But Gilgeous-Alexander didn't want to hear it. As long as he was on the floor, they had a fighting chance. He added to his mythos in this one by making NBA history and clinching another MVP award.

The Nuggets tried everything to slow him down. From traditional one-on-one defenders to throwing double-teams at him as soon as he crossed the midcourt logo. None of it mattered. Gilgeous-Alexander slithered his way around Denver's defense to get to the rim on instinct.

Gilgeous-Alexander had 17 points in the first half. He helped turn things around as the Thunder were on the cusp of being blown out. This was the best his jumper has looked since he returned from an abdominal strain. He populated both elbows to knock down mid-range shots.

Juggling multiple tasks, Gilgeous-Alexander crossed off a bucket list item. He tied Chamberlain for his 20-point streak on a pull-up 3-pointer. While the game went on, the OKC crowd took a moment to acknowledge the special record. It's not one of those fake records, either. Being in the same sentence as an NBA pantheon is the latest achievement for the 27-year-old.

Back to the game, Gilgeous-Alexander couldn't spend too much time realizing what he accomplished. It was back to being lost in the competition. The Thunder only had a one-possession lead despite his 25 points through three quarters.

The scoring was historically efficient as usual, but Gilgeous-Alexander also flexed his playmaking. The Nuggets sold out to stop him from getting isolation looks. That obviously left someone open. The reigning MVP made the simple pass to the open man. He filled up the assist total. It was one of his best games as a passer as several OKC players had easy buckets because of the attention he commanded.

As the second unit maintain their lead in the fourth quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander had the chance to add to his MVP resume. Stepping up in crunch time against Jokic and the Nuggets is the type of moment that sticks with voters — one month out before the regular season ends.

Dancing with Braun, Gilgeous-Alexander made the first of two big-time outside jumpers. The stepback bucket had OKC up four with 13 seconds. Committing a basketball sin, the reigning MVP cleaned up his teammates' mistake. He knocked down another stepback 3-pointer — this time, it was dogmatic. The game-winner capped off one of his most memorable games ever — whether in the regular season or playoffs.

This is what MVPs do, folks. You're seeing one in his prime in OKC right now. It's easy for Gilgeous-Alexander's basketball brilliance to get dull, but nights like these are a slap to the face of how unreal of an NBA player he is. We're seeing an all-time great play his best years on the Thunder. Can't take that stuff for granted. Just wow.

Jaylin Williams: A-plus

Grabbing the loose ball, Williams out-ran Jokic in the one-on-one situation. The 23-year-old went coast-to-coast as he threw down the one-handed jam in the beginning stages of a high-intense fourth quarter. Needing someone else to step up, he turned in one of his best games ever.

Williams finished with 29 points on 10-of-17 shooting, 12 rebounds and three assists. He shot 7-of-11 from 3 and went 2-of-4 on free throws. He also had two blocks.

Think we've seen enough to confidently declare this — Williams has Denver's number. He turns from a decent third-string center into Sengun-lite when he sees the Nuggets across from him. Turning in arguably his best game ever is the latest example of that.

Overcoming a decimated OKC frontcourt, Williams looked closer to an NBA All-Star. The outside jumper was as sharp as it's ever been. When Gilgeous-Alexander drove to the basket, he kicked out to the 23-year-old. Rinse and repeat. He knocked down several looks. To the point that Denver adjusted with hard closeouts.

Williams had nine points in the first quarter. That should've nudged you into thinking he could have a big night. He had 17 points in the second half to help the Thunder survive the nail-biter. While turning into prime Kevin Love was how he got most of his buckets, he also hung around the rim to get easy layups.

Matching minute for minute with Jokic, Williams has turned into OKC's designated stopper of the three-time MVP winner. Sure, he had his best game against the Thunder in a while. But the 23-year-old nearly matched his production on the other end.

Just another unreal chapter to a career season. Williams has really found his groove as an NBA player. When the Thunder need him to scale up due to injuries, he's had no problem doing so by stuffing the stat sheet. It flies under the radar, but he's one of OKC's best developmental stories.

Ajay Mitchell: A-plus

Getting Julian Strawther on him, Mitchell lowered his shoulders. A couple of cross-over dribbles gave him a head start to the basket. The drive-heavy scorer went with the baseline floater that teared in. Out for nearly two months, the 23-year-old made up for lost time.

Mitchell finished with 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting, three assists and two rebounds. He shot 1-of-4 from 3 and went 5-of-5 on free throws. He also had one steal.

Considering how long he was out, you kinda forgot just how much Mitchell changes OKC's dynamics for the better — on both ends of the floor. The Thunder have finally found an oasis after wandering the desert for months. They gladly welcomed back someone else who can get their own buckets.

Mitchell got his points under the same style that has made this a breakout season. He showed off his feel around the rim. Driving to the basket, he didn't need much space to flick up a shot attempt. The Nuggets didn't have the defenders to slow down the bucket-getter.

Mitchell reached 10 points in the first quarter. He helped the Thunder get back into the game after an ugly opening five minutes. It wasn't purely drives to the basket, either. He populated the paint by converting short-range looks whenever Denver couldn't stay in front.

Going with the pump-fake, Mitchell blew past Hardaway Jr. to score a driving layup in the final two minutes. The big-time bucket proved to be incredibly important considering how the Thunder gave up a couple of four-point plays in the final handful of possessions.

Just an awesome return for Mitchell. The regular season's length made you forget just how important he is to OKC's success. The 23-year-old has ascended into a critical part of their rotation and how the offense runs when Gilgeous-Alexander is off the floor. Along with Williams, he was the other Thunder role player who stepped up to get this important win.

Jared McCain: A

Getting the ball at the left-wing spot, McCain drilled in the outside jumper. A few possessions later, he did the same as Williams found him on his relocation to the left corner spot. Back-to-back huge outside buckets as the 22-year-old thrived in his first real clutch-time minutes.

McCain finished with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting, one rebound and one assist. He shot 3-of-5 from 3 and went 2-of-2 on free throws.

Talk about redemption. In a close win over the Golden State Warriors, McCain seldom played in the second half. To the point that Thunder fans thought he was hurt. They were cognizant enough to reassure the newbie that it's got nothing to do with him. Rather they just rotated guys through the flow of the game.

This time, McCain had his chance to show off in similar circumstances. He had six points in the fourth quarter. Nothing crazy in the moment, but his buckets happened at a critical juncture of the game. He had nine points in the second half as he meshed with OKC's second unit.

The more time goes on, the more comfortable McCain looks on the Thunder. This was the first time he had a chance to play alongside Gilgeous-Alexander and Mitchell in a three-guard lineup. The scoring skyrocketed when that trio shared the floor. Something interesting to keep an eye on the rest of the way.

Another great game by a Thunder role player. They've learned to win games through several different ways and rotations. In their third matchup with the Nuggets, it was their bench guys who comfortably stepped up and ate into the vacuum of vacated possessions up for grabs.

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This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Player grades: SGA makes history in Thunder's 129-126 win over Nuggets

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