By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Denver Nuggets were unsuccessful against the Oklahoma City Thunder, falling to a 102-87 loss in Ball Arena on Thursday.
Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic started the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season with a triple-double. His 16 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds were not enough. The Joker also piled up two steals and one block over 35 minutes.
Contributions from the bench were limited for the team coached by Michael Malone, allowing the visitors to gain control in the first half and pull away following the break. Croatian Dario Saric was held to two points, one rebound, and one steal over 11 minutes in his first official game as a Nugget. Slovenian Vlatko Cancar had one rebound in one minute.
For the Thunder, French Ousmane Dieng entering the rotation was combined with six points, three rebounds, and one assist over 13 minutes. “The second half was way better,” the 21-year-old forward described the team’s performance, “We just stayed focused. We know what we have to do on defense and in offense we just execute.”
In his NBA debut, Belgian Ajay Mitchell logged one assist and one rebound but missed all of his three shots.
German Isaiah Hartenstein (left hand fracture) and Nikola Topic (left knee surgery) were sidelined.
Moving forward in the 82-game schedule, the Thunder are staying on the road to take on the Chicago Bulls in United Center and the Denver Nuggets welcome the Los Angeles Clippers in Mile High City. Both games are part of the first edition of NBA Saturdays in the new Regular Season.