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00:00Confidence in his body is packed.
00:02Missed 34 games as Hardenstein gets the push shot.
00:06A left ankle issue that Brown has battled throughout the season.
00:11The expectations for him were high.
00:13He signed a huge contract, but much better of late.
00:17He's got 14 points tonight to lead Denver in scoring.
00:21Three minutes to go in the half.
00:23It's a four-point game.
00:24Jamal Murray has been sick, barely played the other night, gave it a go tonight.
00:28To the corner and Brown for three.
00:30Getting a look at why Denver has been the best offensive team in the game.
00:35Ball movement creating quality shots.
00:39Lead the league in three-point shooting.
00:41Tough shot by McCain.
00:43What an addition he has been.
00:45His ninth game now after being traded by Philly at the deadline.
00:55So, OKC is plus 14 in the paint, but Denver has nine threes to four threes for the Thunder.
01:01And that's the reason for the five-point lead.
01:03Make it ten threes.
01:04Murray splashes it through.
01:05And that two-man action, he is just so savvy.
01:09Using Nikola Jokic as a shield and working behind him into his shot.
01:16Ohmgren in the corner with a clock nearing two minutes to go.
01:20Shovels to Hartenstein, who normally makes that floater.
01:24And one-and-done situation.
01:26Denver up the court quickly.
01:28Strother.
01:29Maybe not what David Adelman wanted in terms of shot selection.
01:33And then a foul on Brown.
01:36That's the first on Denver in the quarter.
01:38One of the most productive tandems in NBA history.
01:43Just navigating behind Nikola Jokic's screen.
01:46Sees Kaysen Wallace trying to get skinny over the top.
01:50So the simple crossover shakes him.
01:52Just excellent use of your big man.
01:56Dildes Alexander back on the court for Oklahoma City.
02:00With 16 points.
02:03Had two early on in his first stretch, but has been red hot since.
02:07They double him.
02:08He gives it up to Wallace.
02:10And another turnover by the Thunder.
02:12Excellent defense by Denver in the second quarter.
02:15Brown floats it up and in off the glass.
02:17This has been a massive part of Denver, right?
02:20David Adelman telling us even though it's a short situation,
02:23they've been the best defense coming out of All-Star.
02:25There's just, listen, a couple quick fouls here.
02:28The level of intensity from Denver on the defensive end against Boston
02:33and following it up here tonight.
02:35Their anticipation in passing lanes, physicality, deflections.
02:40Like, yes, you have been the best offensive team.
02:43Guess what?
02:44If you're going to win a championship, that defense better come along for the ride
02:47because it's the only way you're going to beat the best teams.
02:50So, in the penalty situation with Brown committing two fouls in about 15 seconds
02:55and SGA at the line as we look at our NBA national TV schedule,
02:59prime video tomorrow, Rockets, Heat, ABC, Lakers, Warriors,
03:03doubleheader Sunday, ABC, Nick Spurs, Denver, Host, Minnesota,
03:07Sunday night NBC and Peacock, Boston, and Philly.
03:10For more, go to NBA.com.
03:14Gilgis Alexander, 4-4 at the line, 18 points.
03:17Oklahoma City, though, down eight with a minute and a half to go in the first half.
03:22Jokic setting the high screen near midcourt for Murray.
03:25Murray goes to the left hand.
03:27Holmgren comes over to reject it.
03:29Kept alive, though, to Jokic.
03:31Jokic, three off the heel, and Holmgren working hard, gets the defensive board.
03:37Jokic, three for ten now, and he's taken a lot of jumpers.
03:42Meanwhile, seven blocks for Oklahoma City.
03:45Holmgren in the pan, count it.
03:50Second basket for Holmgren.
03:52Six-point game inside a minute to go in the half.
04:00And a kick by Gilgis Alexander.
04:03He touched on Denver, Doris.
04:05Needed to be better defensively.
04:07They're missing Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson.
04:10You know Oklahoma City's going to be good defensively.
04:12Number one in the NBA.
04:14And Chet on one end defensively, and then comes back down the other end,
04:18gives you the awfully bounce spin move to a little fade.
04:22Yeah, he's been elite at the rim for them defensively,
04:25and that offensive game just expanding and expanding.
04:29An all-star this year for the first time.
04:32Year three for the 23-year-old out of Gonzaga.
04:36Jokic with a jab step.
04:38Shot clock down to five.
04:41Swing it to Murray with three to shoot.
04:43Murray, four-three.
04:45And long rebound Hardaway.
04:52Hardaway, four of four from three-point range.
04:55Gives it up to Jokic.
04:56He'll launch.
04:57And connect.
04:58His first three-pointer.
05:00Because the guards switched on to him,
05:03the challenge a little bit lower, clearer vision on the jump shot.
05:08About a half-second difference in the game
05:10and shot clocks here at the end of the second quarter in Oklahoma City.
05:15OKC 24-6 at home.
05:17Best home record in the league.
05:19Hardenstein gets drilled, falls down.
05:21No whistle.
05:22Three seconds to go.
05:24Gildas Alexander with one.
05:26Gets it away in time.
05:27It falls off the rim.
05:29And the half is over.
05:30No basket on the door tip.
05:35Ernie, Kenny, Charles, and Shaq are coming up on halftime.
05:38Presented by Hyundai.
05:40Very physical opening half here in Oklahoma City.
05:44Two of the last three NBA champions
05:47squaring off for the second time this season.
05:50And it's Denver on the road.
05:52Behind Jokic's 11 points and nine rebounds.
05:55Leading Gildas Alexander in the Thunder by nine at the break.
06:06Four out of four from deep for Tim Hardaway Jr.
06:10And it's a 59-50 lead for the Nuggets,
06:15who lost to the Thunder in Denver earlier this year.
06:19In fact, earlier this month.
06:20But they've beat it at the half by nine.
06:22It's the halftime report presented by Hyundai.
06:26Ernie Jones, Shaquille Ooney, Kenny the Jetsmith, and Charles Barkley.
06:30Been a fun night.
06:31Had a wild overtime game on ESPN.
06:33I thought we were going to realize the lifetime dream
06:36of doing a halftime show on ESPN News.
06:38But it only went one overtime, and so here we are.
06:41Back on regular ESPN.
06:44Time for the epic moment brought to you by the Hyundai Palisade.
06:50So SGA back.
06:51Missed nine games.
06:52They went five and four.
06:5418 points in the first half.
06:56Ten of those in the second quarter.
06:58The plus-minus ten when he's on the floor and minus 19 when he's off the floor.
07:05You said this is like a playoff game, Chuckster.
07:08Well, you can tell the difference in intensity.
07:10You don't see this many hard fouls, elbows, and wrestling.
07:14Like, these teams know they're going to play each other somewhere in the playoff.
07:18And Shaq and Ernie know, Kenny know this.
07:20I might know it, too, but go ahead.
07:22Like, you know when you're playing against a team that's a legit contender.
07:26Especially now, the second half of the season, coming down the stretch,
07:29you want to send mental messages.
07:31And you can see Difford came out with a totally different energy.
07:36And OKC matched it.
07:37That was a fun game.
07:39That's a fun half so far.
07:40What did you think of SGA?
07:42Is wrestling the same as Rasslin?
07:44Rasslin.
07:45R-A-S-S-L-I-N apostrophe.
07:47I just didn't know.
07:49Yeah, again, he's not finding this amusing.
07:51I'm just checking, man.
07:52I'm not from Alabama.
07:54Sorry.
07:54Shout out to The Rock.
07:56We said it a little different in New York City.
07:58We played it a little different in New York City.
08:01Acknowledge me!
08:02OK.
08:03All right.
08:04Shout out, Roman Reigns.
08:06OK.
08:06I would say what happens, and this is what I think Oklahoma has to be
08:12a little bit careful of, is that when SGA is back, I believe that they
08:18become a little bit, this year, less ball movement.
08:23There's a lot of his ability to score the basketball so easily.
08:27There's a lot of standing for great athletes.
08:31Holmgren, Williams, Williams that comes off the bench.
08:34Like, they have a lot of great athletes, Lou Dort, but then they become
08:39stagnant on the offensive and easy to guard.
08:42They can defend you, but then they make it easy for you to guard.
08:46So, they have to get back to moving the basketball a little bit more,
08:50I think, if they're trying to do a repeat in what they did last year.
08:54SGA, the only guy in double figures for OKC with those 18 points.
08:59Denver, meantime, getting 14 from Christian Brown.
09:02Jokers got 11 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, could be on his way to another triple-double.
09:07Tim Hardaway with the 12.
09:09But you got your eye on Jamal Murray with you.
09:11Yeah, as much as we marvel over the Jokers, this is a guy that has to play great for them
09:16to have championship aspirations again.
09:18Because when they won the championship, he was playing out of his mind,
09:21hitting shots like these.
09:22And, you know, he's been a little bit too up and down.
09:24I jumped on him last year, and he had a big game.
09:26He responded very well.
09:27But if he can play with this type of enthusiasm, this type of energy,
09:31they definitely have a chance.
09:32And if you have guys like Christian Brown putting in 14 to others,
09:35but, you know, Jokers going to do his thing.
09:37But he has to play phenomenal for them to have a chance to win again.
09:41And I actually want to piggyback on something Kenny to say.
09:44I actually think I noticed it last year, even when they were winning,
09:47and I noticed it a little bit more this year.
09:49But they do – when you're a great player like S.J. is,
09:53you're supposed to be the finisher, not the starter and go every time.
09:57I think they do need more ball movement and body movement.
10:00That's a great point Kenny made.
10:02Denver's got the lead 59-50 after 24 minutes.
10:05You are watching the Halftime Report, presented by –
10:09Rock, one of my favorite people.
10:11Our buddy, our buddy, The Rock.
10:12Oh, and underdog goes swimming.
10:15That was one of the great moments of several years ago.
10:19Oh, the producer, this guy?
10:20Yes.
10:21Yeah.
10:22Kenny.
10:23Yes, sir.
10:23You want to ride with me downtown?
10:25No, no, no, no.
10:27Put your money away, man.
10:28That's not even your money, Ernie.
10:30I know.
10:30Chuck's money.
10:31Put the money away.
10:33Fake money.
10:34Come on, Kenny, take a ride with me.
10:36NBA Halftime is presented by the all-new Hyundai Palisade.
10:41Visit HyundaiUSA.com.
10:47Chuck.
10:48There you go.
10:48Rashad.
10:49Rashad's back.
10:50Hey, Roman Reigns, I love that dude.
10:53Acknowledge me.
10:54Cleveland at Detroit earlier tonight.
10:57What a game.
10:58Tade Cunningham.
11:00Oh, no.
11:00That was 25-10-7, but he fouled out.
11:03Cleveland built a nine-point lead late.
11:07Jalen Duren cuts the lead there.
11:10And this was a heck of a game.
11:11111.
11:12I hate that call.
11:13I hate that call.
11:14You fouled him.
11:15He wasn't trying to launch the ball.
11:16Yes, he was.
11:17Yes, he was.
11:17That was an awful call, Ralph.
11:19How cool were those free throws by Dana Strasburg?
11:21That was not a foul.
11:23The guy wasn't shooting the ball from three quarters of the court.
11:26Stop it, Ralph.
11:27Down three.
11:27Oh, fadeaway got him.
11:29Elias Harris.
11:31I hate that call, man.
11:32Way to battle, Cavs.
11:34The Detroit Pistons.
11:37Cavs, without Donovan Mitchell, without James Harden,
11:41darn near pulled it off at Little Caesars,
11:43but the Pistons win it 122.
11:45Jared Adams, win the ball, brother.
11:46Win the ball.
11:4710 games for now.
11:48You've got to do that.
11:49That's 25 clutch wins for the Detroit Pistons,
11:52which is the most of the move.
11:54That's right.
11:55JC Penney, yes.
11:56Hey, you're right.
11:56Jacques Penney from the big man section.
11:59You know, Jacques Penney, it's called a big man section.
12:02It doesn't look like a couch.
12:03Yes, it does, sir.
12:04Don't you have anything to say to whoever did that?
12:07Well, it is a couch.
12:09It's his mom's couch that I cut up from my house when he wasn't home.
12:14Hey, baby, I'll be home tomorrow, too.
12:17I'll be home tomorrow, too.
12:18Hey, good call, Donnie.
12:19Good call, Donnie.
12:20Good call, Donnie.
12:21Jacques Penney.
12:22You can thank me later.
12:23Sure, Bob.
12:26Welcome back to NBA Friday, presented by State Farm.
12:30Shea Giltis Alexander back after a nine-game absence due to injury.
12:34He's got 18 points.
12:36Nikola Jokic with 11, and it's a nine-point Denver lead.
12:40Let's look at our shot monitor, brought to you by Ensure.
12:4324 days off, and he doesn't miss a beat, and he goes right to the interior because you're
12:49trying to get your rhythm back.
12:50He typically wears out the left-hand side of the floor and that elbow area.
12:54He goes seven for 12 on two-pointers and five for seven in the paint.
12:59Very vintage Shea Giltis Alexander.
13:01Meanwhile, defensively for Denver, Doris, I know it's a small sample size, but since
13:05the All-Star break, they've got the number one defense in the league, and good first half
13:09here tonight.
13:09Well, there is a level of physicality and attention to detail and impact at the point
13:15of attack for Denver.
13:16Multiple efforts, deflections, jump in the passing lanes.
13:19Like, this team's defense has got to come along with the number one offense if they're
13:24going to win a championship.
13:25I think David Adelman has delivered that message.
13:27They held Oklahoma City to four of 15 from three in that first half.
13:32Here's Strother for three, in and out.
13:34Denver made 11 threes in the first half as a team.
13:38Leading scores for Denver.
13:40Christian Brown with 14, Tim Hardaway Jr. with 12.
13:44As Giltis Alexander gets rid of the defender, finds Kaysen Wallace, who drives and finishes
13:49for his second basket.
13:51Boy, the level of confidence for Kaysen Wallace is at an all-time high, and I love that his attack
13:56mindset is staying.
13:58Without Shea, he had to turn it up offensively.
14:01I like the mindset.
14:03Yeah, 70 points the previous three games.
14:05SGA with the steal and the basket.
14:09He's got two blocks and two steals, and his 20-point streak continues, 122 in a row.
14:17He is now four away from tying Wilt Chamberlain for the longest in NBA history.
14:22Brown for three.
14:24In and out.
14:24Rebound Dort.
14:31Around the street, Giltis Alexander pulls up.
14:34Brown got a piece of it.
14:36Out of bounds.
14:37We'll stay with the Thunder as we check in with Katie.
14:40Well, guys, the last time Denver played here in OKC was Game 7 in the second round of the
14:44last year's playoffs.
14:45Mark Dagnalt said, when you listen to Magic Johnson and Larry Bird talk about each other,
14:49they have so much respect for one another because they made each other better.
14:52Dagnalt said, we're not Bird or Magic, but it's a similar sentiment when it comes to Denver.
14:57He said, they made us better during that seven-game series.
14:59They helped develop us.
15:00And as competitors, you gain respect and reverence for an opponent who does that.
15:04And that's exactly how we feel about Denver.
15:06It was a terrific series as Jokic just called for his third foul, trying to block Hartenstein.
15:13Denver forced to Game 7 as Julian Strother had a 15-point game off the bench in the Mile-High
15:19sitting.
15:19And then Oklahoma City was down early in Game 7 but ended up winning 125-93, advancing to
15:25the conference finals and eventually winning the championship.
15:32Giltis Alexander thought he was fouled in that brown block attempt.
15:36Meanwhile, Hartenstein at the line.
15:39Time for tonight's DraftKings Sportsbook.
15:42Player pulse.
15:43Jokic's season average in SGA's for points per game.
15:46See, mere mortals, if you were talking about mere mortals, you might decide you can't go over on Jokic.
15:52But I'm going to say he's going over that 28 points because he's not mortal.
15:55And he's going to catch fire at some point.
15:58He's 4 for 11 so far.
15:59DraftKings, the number one sportsbook for live betting.
16:02Use promo code SPLASH when you sign up.
16:05The four-point game again.
16:07Denver had a 16-point lead in the first quarter.
16:10It's the second meeting of four this year between the two.
16:14Three is good for Jamal Murray.
16:16He's got 11 points now.
16:18Just love the way he sprints into that action.
16:23Playing through sickness tonight.
16:25Wild shot by Giltis Alexander.
16:28And out of bounds to Denver.
16:31So watch Jamal.
16:33A little stagger for him into a handoff.
16:37And eventually that action is going to get him clear.
16:40But if he's not in a dead sprint off both the screen and that handoff, that's a harder shot.
16:46Third steal for Giltis Alexander.
16:49And then out of bounds will stay with the Thunder.
16:52SGA a little shaken up on the play.
16:56So his activity on the defensive end has been terrific tonight.
17:00You mentioned he's already got a couple of blocks.
17:02He's done this a couple of times where his hand is in the cookie jar and he's coming away with
17:07something.
17:08And he gets tore over the floor that time trying to get around the screen.
17:14Oh, what a move.
17:15Pass Jokic.
17:16Fires underneath.
17:17100 for the stump.
17:18Oh, my goodness.
17:22I mean, he is, when he is downhill, the creativity and the handle are special.
17:32And a foul on Dort colliding with Jokic.
17:35First on Oklahoma City in the quarter.
17:38So watch him now.
17:39He's got the big in front of him.
17:40The little inside out lean with the shoulder.
17:43Get Jokic going.
17:44Just watch him attack the big.
17:47I mean, oh, my goodness.
17:48And then the low defender's there in rotation and he's just picking you apart.
17:53This guy, just his own tempo, never in a hurry.
17:59Everything done methodically but on point.
18:31Another foul on Dort.
18:32Went up for the jumper and at the last second saw Holmgren come free underneath the goal.
18:40So five assists now for Gildas Alexander.
18:43He averages about six and a half per game.
18:45Murray off the Jokic screen.
18:47The three won't go that time.
18:50Denver currently fourth in the west.
18:52Oklahoma City is first.
18:54A game up on San Antonio in the loss column.
18:59Gildas Alexander's shot wouldn't fall on the baseline.
19:01Normally money from there.
19:03Murray attacking the rim.
19:12Lead back to seven.
19:13Murray with 13 points.
19:14Gildas Alexander shoots with a left hand as he draws a foul.
19:21They're picking up the personal.
19:22These are two very good teams familiar with one another.
19:25Just patience, right?
19:27He understands.
19:29Hartstein has come over to stop him, so he just wraps the pass around.
19:33And then this, you do not see somebody waltz down the lane that often against Oklahoma City
19:39and go untouched.
19:40Number one defense in the NBA is Gildas Alexander, now five of five at the line.
19:48Only one player in NBA history has shot 55% from the floor, 40% from three, and 90%
19:55at the free throw line.
19:56That was Kevin Durant a few years ago.
19:57Right now, Shea Gildas Alexander has a chance at it.
20:01He's at 55%, and he's a hair under both the 40% three-point mark and 90% free throw
20:09percentage,
20:09but he's six of six, so it may, by the end of the night, be a bug night.
20:1522 points for Gildas Alexander.
20:18Great all-around game in his first game back.
20:21Jokic, that jab, stepped-down drive, finds Brown somehow, and Brown scores.
20:27Yeah, so Christian Brown is now the target, and this is where I think they miss Aaron Gordon,
20:34is that baseline runner, the dunker spot where he's so effective.
20:38Christian Brown giving them some of that.
20:41Homegrids three, no good.
20:43Aaron Gordon missing his 14th straight game.
20:46He missed a good part of the year due to a hamstring injury.
20:50Tried to play through a hamstring injury in this series in the playoffs last year.
20:55Brown's three-pointer is short.
20:56The one-and-done for Denver.
21:01Now Brown charged with trying to stop Gildas Alexander, who gets past him,
21:06and good job to rotate Cam Johnson.
21:13Jokic fakes the three, missed the floater, got his own miss, his 10th rebound,
21:19and then has it taken away.
21:21Wallace splits the defenders, blocked by Cam Johnson on the chase down.
21:26And out of bounds, it'll be Denver basketball.
21:29Wow.
21:30I mean, Carson Wallace has a different gear, folks.
21:32It is not very often he is caught up to in transition.
21:37Cam Johnson's throwing a little bit of athleticism and speed himself.
21:41And now a technical on the bench as Jason Goebel pointed at the corner of the Denver bench,
21:52not at David Adelman, at the players down in the corner.
21:55Somebody said something.
21:56And so Gildas Alexander will shoot the free throw.
22:08Jason Goebel was the one that teed up Shea Gildas Alexander in the first four minutes of the game.
22:16And they're going to say the technical was against Tim Hardaway.
22:20Well, what happened was...
22:27He can't believe it.
22:31David Adelman didn't even know what was going on.
22:33He was already...
22:34He was close to the hash mark there where he hovers throughout the game.
22:39Murray gets past Dort and rolls it home with the left.
22:43I'll tell you what, for a guy who came in not 100%, he's going to force a timeout.
22:47Jamal Murray downhill a couple of times here in the last couple of minutes.
22:51We'll see you, Speedy.
22:55By Metro, by T-Mobile.
22:57Well, you know Nikola Jokic loves his horses, but he says,
23:01I love basketball even more, even though people think I don't.
23:05Very serious about the game and the numbers back it up.
23:07He's closing in on the all-time triple-double record, the all-time plus-minus record.
23:13He's trying to win MVP for the fourth time in six years.
23:17Only five players have won four MVPs.
23:20Jordan, Chamberlain, James, Russell, Javar.
23:24And tonight he's got 13 points, 10 boards and six assists.
23:28Looks like another triple-double in the making.
23:30Plenty of time to get those assists up.
23:33And think about it.
23:34He's had a couple teammates miss wide-open shots.
23:37That was deflected by Brown.
23:39Let's check him at Katie.
23:40Well, Dave Doris, look how active Nikola Jokic is in Denver's huddle.
23:44He's been coaching up his teammates on their defensive coverage.
23:47This went on for two minutes before David Adelman joined the group.
23:50And this is not something we used to see Jokic do.
23:52He's taken ownership of this team and he's made it a point to grow as a vocal leader the past
23:57two seasons.
23:58And that's a prime example of that, Dave.
24:00And also, Katie, just kind of watching him communicate more defensively live.
24:04I mean, the difference to me against a Boston team that was clearly fatigued, but nonetheless, the defense was excellent.
24:11They followed it up with another physical game tonight, holding OKC to 64 midway through the third.
24:19Meanwhile, Jamal Murray with nine in the quarter.
24:22He had eight in the first half.
24:24Jokic Alexander gets by his man again.
24:26And he's up to 25 points in his first game back in almost a month.
24:32The six-point game at the six-minute mark.
24:34No look.
24:35Pass to the corner.
24:36Hardaway's three.
24:37Short.
24:38That's his first miss from three-point range, but an offensive rebound.
24:44Jokic doubled.
24:45Gives it up.
24:46Straight on three.
24:46Brown.
24:47No good.
24:49Poked out to Dort.
24:52He'll wait for the MVP.
24:55And Gilchis Alexander rolls it down low.
24:58Basket by Hartenstein.
25:01This guy's playmaking passing has just evolved to another level.
25:07Sixth assist now for Gilchis Alexander.
25:13Four of those have come in the quarter.
25:15Jokic in the center of the paint.
25:17Floats it up short.
25:19Thunderball down four.
25:21One on four.
25:21Kaysen Wallace will wait for help.
25:27Gilchis Alexander has the hot hand.
25:30Both as a score and a distributor.
25:33Long two.
25:34Too strong.
25:35And Jokic secures the rebound.
25:40Got an excellent defensive unit on the floor right now for Oklahoma City.
25:46Led by Dort, first-team all-defense last year.
25:49Murray hangs, can't muscle it home, but he will go to the line.
25:56Let's watch a guy who has not played in 24 days get right back to MVP level.
26:02Attacking the big, getting downhill.
26:04A lot of his work early in the paint.
26:07How about this little wrap-through pass?
26:09Got to be low enough so that somebody can't deflect it.
26:13Perfectly placed.
26:14This guy is special.
26:15And I'll tell you what's happening right now.
26:17What they call this in Denver is a little merry flurry here in the third.
26:22And he gets the bounce for his tenth point of the quarter.
26:24Coming up after the game inside the NBA.
26:27Ernie Shaq, Kenny, and Charles will break down this game.
26:31And a terrific first game between Cleveland and Detroit that saw everything,
26:36including a lengthy delay that the guys will cover.
26:40Meanwhile, Gilgis Alexander will get a breather here.
26:42He's played 22 minutes.
26:44What about Detroit, who was fighting uphill all night in that basketball game?
26:49Cleveland under man, no Harden, no Donovan Mitchell.
26:52Don't have your best stuff, and yet you go to 44 wins in the Eastern Conference.
27:00And they have the best record in the NBA.
27:02The Thunder a game back in the loss column.
27:04Caruso's three in and out.
27:07Jokic with his 12th rebound, 13 points, six assists.
27:10He's been playing with three fouls for most of this third quarter.
27:13Jokic got downhill and scores off glass.
27:16That's a pretty nimble feat by a guy that size.
27:20It is remarkable, his footwork.
27:23He does it as a passer and a scorer.
27:25Three won't fall for Aaron Wiggins, who is 0 for 3 from deep.
27:31Thunder still without Jalen Williams and A.J. Mitchell.
27:33They hope to get both back soon.
27:35Denver not playing with Peyton Watson or Aaron Gordon again tonight.
27:39Those two guys are nearing a return here as well in the next couple weeks.
27:44Shot clock down to four.
27:47Hardaway spinning, missing, and Wiggins clears it.
27:53A lot of dribbling in that possession for Denver.
28:01Dort launches.
28:03Can't hit a three.
28:04Oklahoma City, four of 19 from three-point range.
28:09Jokic calling for it at the head of the circle.
28:14Brown screens, then rolls, and scores with Jokic getting the assist.
28:19And a timeout by the Thunder.
28:21That tandem is special.
28:24Christian Brown learned early how to play with Nikola Jokic.
28:28There's a friendship on and off the floor.
28:30The connection is real.
28:31This guy is so good as a passer.
28:33Brown, nice job finishing.
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28:55Dave Pasch with Doris Burke and Katie George here in Oklahoma City.
28:59Sheik Yodas Alexander back on the floor.
29:02The Thunder are minus 23 while he's on the bench.
29:06Empty possession, though.
29:08Missed three by Isaiah Joe.
29:10It was excellent execution of that.
29:12You got your best shooter, the most pure three-point shooter on your team.
29:15A great look.
29:17Yodas Alexander is the only Thunder player in double figures with 25.
29:22Yodas is three.
29:23Not there.
29:23He's one for five.
29:27Ten-point lead.
29:28Denver led by as many as 16 in the first quarter.
29:34Jalen Williams.
29:35They leave him, and he makes him pay.
29:37Coming off a 30-point game against Detroit two nights ago.
29:41I don't think he had the start to the year he would have hoped,
29:44but he is playing excellent basketball right now.
29:49Year four out of Arkansas is averaging about seven points per game.
29:54Jokic going at the smaller Joe.
29:58Jalen Williams with good defense.
30:00Jokic over the top.
30:01Out of bounds.
30:02Last touch by the Thunder.
30:08Jokic is six of 17 from the floor, one of five from three.
30:11His worst game of the year arguably came in the first meeting,
30:15and Denver was held to 16 points, eight assists, and had six turnovers.
30:19Murray for three.
30:21Got it.
30:21Jamal Murray catching fire in the third.
30:25Another assist for Jokic.
30:27He's starting to wrap those up.
30:29Three assists shy of yet another triple-double.
30:31And 14 points in the quarter for Murray.
30:34Gilgis Alexander fouled.
30:36So talented at drawing contact and getting to the line,
30:40where he's seven of seven tonight.
30:41Watch the inbounds pass.
30:43Just look at how patiently Jokic just little shovel pass, screen in.
30:50And just a little screen assist.
30:53Nobody is going to come through my chest to go out and challenge my shooter.
30:58That is his eighth assist.
31:00He averages about 10 and a half a career high.
31:02The foul was on Murray's first.
31:04Jokic is trying to become the first player ever to lead the NBA in both rebounds and assists.
31:09I mean, these two guys, the one at the free throw line and the one you're looking at right here,
31:13I mean, there's a reason they are the top two candidates for MVP.
31:16And shake Gilgis Alexander at the free throw line.
31:20And he misses that.
31:21But Coach Adelman was talking to us about it's not just the number of free throws.
31:25It's that you get to set your defense off those if you're Oklahoma City
31:29and you've been the best half-court defense in the league.
31:34Hardaway's three spins out.
31:36Other MVP candidates include Victor Weminyama, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brown.
31:42Jokic can only miss one game.
31:44Gilgis Alexander who scores again.
31:46He can only miss six more games or they would be ineligible for all postseason awards.
31:5622 games left for the Thunder.
31:5823 for Denver.
31:59Browns three off the mark.
32:00Denver hitting a cold streak from D.
32:04Approaching a minute to go on the third.
32:06They greet Gilgis Alexander right when he crosses half-court.
32:10Gives it up to get it back with a shot clock at 10.
32:13And again, they got two men watching him.
32:15And a foul on Hardaway.
32:18That will send Gilgis Alexander to the line.
32:21That's what's the shiftiness of Shea Gilgis Alexander.
32:24We talk all the time about his tempo, his cadence.
32:28And he's got a tight enough handle that with, listen, watch, watch the reach-ins, right?
32:34He is having to maintain a handle with a level of physicality and handsiness.
32:39Do you realize how tight that handle has to be to absorb that reaching and slapping and never lose control
32:47of the ball?
32:48He makes it look easy.
32:50That is not easy.
32:54Second-leading scorer behind Luka Doncic right now in the league.
32:57Won the scoring title last year.
33:00And the MVP and the championship and the finals MVP.
33:04And let me just say this.
33:06As a team, the Nuggets, you want to see that level of activity and physicality for the rest of the
33:12season if you're Adelman.
33:15Gilgis Alexander has 12 points in the quarter.
33:20Jokic on the back down, kicks it out, extra pass, Browns three, no good.
33:26One and done for Denver.
33:28Jokic got tangled up with Jalen Williams.
33:31Gilgis Alexander downhill and lays it home.
33:34Gilgis Alexander with 32 points.
33:39It's his 35th 30-point game as Cam Johnson scores on the other end.
33:43I'll tell you this.
33:45It was a 15-2 advantage fast break in favor of Denver in the first half.
33:51They are beating Oklahoma City up the floor on so many occasions and scoring those easy ones.
33:57Joe underneath.
33:59Turnover.
34:02Denver has time, but they get an opportunity in transition.
34:05The three, no good.
34:06Brown, the offensive rebound.
34:07Gets it to Jokic.
34:09Can't bank it home.
34:12And Brown did not get it off in time.
34:14And so, Denver will take a six-point lead in the fourth quarter.
34:18Gilgis Alexander with the last seven for the Thunder.
34:21There's Jake Gilgis Alexander navigating downhill.
34:24A problem.
34:25They can't keep him in front.
34:26Same thing said for Jamal Murray.
34:29A little flurried at the end.
34:34PA Friday presented by State Farm.
34:36We're on the sidelines with Isaiah Hartenstein.
34:39Isaiah, I know Jokic draws a lot of attention, but Jamal Murray had a big quarter there.
34:42How would you assess your all's defense of execution right now?
34:45I think just as a team, I think they have a great pick and roll.
34:48You kind of have to pick your battles with that.
34:49And so, I think just as a team, we've got to do a better job of just making it a
34:53little harder for him.
34:54Shea's on a tear.
34:55What do you got to do offensively here to close this out?
34:58I think just being still being consistent.
35:00I just think just playing as a team, I mean, we know what he's going to do.
35:02But I think just us role players just got to step up and come up.
35:06Thanks, Hart.
35:06Appreciate it.
35:07Dave.
35:08And it certainly would help them think they get the ball past their own free-throw line.
35:12They turn it over in a three by Oklahoma City.
35:14Makes it a three-point game.
35:16And a timeout by David Adelman.
35:20Did not like what he saw with the intensity to start this fourth quarter.
35:26It's a three-point game at OKC.
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35:45Our upcoming NBA national TV schedule.
35:47Prime video tomorrow by Emmy Houston.
35:49ABC tomorrow night.
35:50Lakers, Warriors, doubleheader ABC Sunday.
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35:56Denver hosts Minnesota, then Sunday night on NBC and Peacock.
36:00Sixers and Celtics.
36:01For more, go to NBA.com.
36:03Balanchunas scores out of the timeout.
36:05Back to a five-point lead for Denver.
36:09Jared McCain hit the three to start the scoring for Oklahoma City.
36:13He's got nine points in 11 minutes.
36:15And just his ninth game of the Thunder coming over in a trade from Philly.
36:20Jalen Williams for three.
36:22This guy has been absolutely lights out.
36:25He's played a tough physical brand of basketball.
36:29And the post is going to absorb a little contact from Jonas there.
36:34And now a foul called as Dort hits the deck.
36:37It's going to be on Balanchunas on the screen.
36:43And the respect of stars sitting right now.
36:46The on-off without Jokic and SGA have not been great.
36:51Jonas is going to try to lean in.
36:53Gives a little bit extra.
36:54Both his left foot a little wide and the lean.
36:57Could have called either of those.
37:01McCain driving and Murray gets into the teeth of the paint.
37:04Double clutches puts up the air ball but kept alive by Joe.
37:08Dork straight on.
37:09Buries a three.
37:11And the Thunder have their first lead since it was 13 to 12.
37:29Murray doubled inside to Brown.
37:33Short rebound home run.
37:41Another three on the way.
37:44They were three for three from deep in this quarter before that miss.
37:48They made four threes through the first three quarters.
37:54Two minutes gone by in the fourth.
37:56One-point Thunder lead.
37:58Cam Johnson stops at the foul line.
38:01Can't connect.
38:02Holmgren snatches it out of the air for rebound number 13.
38:11Holmgren career high nine rebounds per game.
38:14Dort in the lane.
38:16New Dort coming up big here in the fourth.
38:19And another Denver timeout.
38:32Nyquil intense fluke.
38:34You have been down your three lead ball handlers for long stretches.
38:39So guys like Jalen Williams, Lou Dort, Isaiah Joe, name some players.
38:44They have gained incredible confidence because they've had to elevate their games and do things
38:51outside the normal role that they typically play when the stars are on the floor.
38:57Long term, that may be the bright spot for Oklahoma City is the elevation in the play of like a
39:04Kaysen Wallace.
39:05And a Jared McLeod.
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