In a clash of Western Conference titans that felt more like a playoff Game 7 than a regular-season matchup, the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander return lived up to every bit of the hype. The reigning NBA MVP exploded for 36 points in his first game back from a nine-game absence, propelling the Oklahoma City Thunder to a gritty 127-121 overtime victory against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night at the Paycom Center.

Reigning MVP Returns in Dominant Fashion

After missing nearly three weeks with an abdominal strain, questions lingered about how quickly Gilgeous-Alexander would regain his rhythm. He answered them almost immediately. The Canadian superstar looked explosive from the opening tip, finishing with 36 points, nine assists, and three rebounds in just 34 minutes of action.

Despite his brilliance in regulation, Gilgeous-Alexander did not play in the extra period due to a strict minutes restriction. Watching from the sidelines, he saw his teammates rally to secure the win, a testament to the depth that has kept the Thunder atop the Oklahoma City Thunder standings throughout his absence.

"Felt good," Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters post-game. "I'm just thankful to be back on the floor with these guys. They held it down while I was out, and they closed it out tonight when I couldn't be out there."

Lu Dort Ejection Sparks Chaos in Fourth Quarter

The intensity reached a boiling point midway through the fourth quarter in an incident that will likely dominate Thunder vs Nuggets highlights reels for days. With the game in the balance, Thunder defensive ace Lu Dort was ejected after a hard foul on Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.

Dort appeared to trip Jokic while checking him near midcourt, sending the Serbian big man stumbling. Jokic immediately confronted Dort, sparking a heated scrum involving players from both sides. After a lengthy video review, officials assessed a Flagrant 2 foul on Dort, resulting in an automatic ejection. The scuffle also led to NBA technical fouls last night for both Jokic and OKC forward Jaylin Williams.

"It was unnecessary and excessive," crew chief James Williams explained in the pool report. "The contact had high potential for injury and escalated the situation." The ejection left the Thunder without their premier perimeter defender for the frantic final minutes of regulation.

Thunder Depth Shines in Overtime

With Gilgeous-Alexander on the bench and Dort in the locker room, Oklahoma City's supporting cast faced a supreme test in overtime. Chet Holmgren stepped up with a monstrous performance, anchoring the defense and cleaning the glass. The sophomore sensation finished with 15 points and a career-high 21 rebounds, including three crucial blocks that stifled Denver's interior attack.

In the extra session, unheralded heroes Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace delivered the knockout blows. Caruso, who finished with 12 points, hit a clutch corner three, while Wallace and Isaiah Joe combined for 12 of OKC's 20 overtime points. The NBA overtime scores from Friday night highlight this game as the highest-scoring OT affair of the week, with the Thunder outscoring Denver 20-14 in the extra five minutes.

Nikola Jokic Stats and Nuggets Struggles

Despite the loss, the Nuggets received another masterclass from their leader. Nikola Jokic stats were typically eye-popping: 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 14 assists for his league-leading 22nd triple-double of the season. However, the Nuggets struggled to contain OKC's perimeter speed late in the game.

Jamal Murray led all scorers with 39 points, hitting clutch shots to force overtime, but ran out of gas in the final frame. The loss drops Denver to 37-23, loosening their grip on the fourth seed in the West, while the Thunder improved to an NBA-best 46-15.

Western Conference Playoff Implications

This victory serves as a statement for an Oklahoma City team looking to repeat as Western Conference champions. Holding a two-game lead over the surging San Antonio Spurs for the No. 1 seed, every win is vital. The Thunder have now won four of their last five games, proving they can beat elite competition even when adversity strikes.

For Denver, the physical toll of the game—and the emotional weight of the Dort-Jokic altercation—may linger as they prepare for a back-to-back set this weekend. As the playoffs approach, this rivalry is quickly becoming one of the league's most fierce.