The Athletic NBA Daily Thunder strike down Nuggets + All Star Reserves
Feb 2, 2026
A wild recap of Oklahoma City toppling Denver, spotlighting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s big night and OKC’s hot three-point barrage. A lively debate over All Star reserve picks and notable snubs. Trade-deadline moves get dissected, including Cleveland’s addition of Schroder and Keon Ellis. The show also breaks down Paul George’s 25-game suspension and its ripple effects.
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SGA's Gravity Powers OKC Offense
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's gravity creates open shots and elevates teammates' production without always shooting himself.
- The Thunder's 19-of-48 three-point night showed how spacing plus SGA's playmaking can beat elite teams.
Three-Point Volume Was The Decisive Edge
- OKC solved a math problem: take high-volume, quality threes and leverage SGA's playmaking to open looks.
- When they hit those threes, they can function as one of the league's best offenses.
Jokić's Rust And Fatigue Cost Nuggets
- Nikola Jokić looked less effective returning from absence, taking only two shots in the first half and appearing fatigued.
- OKC's physical defense and offensive rebounding disrupted Jokić's rhythm and forced uncharacteristic turnovers.