The Athletic NBA Daily

Episode: "Best Game of the Season: Thunder vs. Nuggets"

Date: March 10, 2026
Hosted by: Dave DuFour, Zena Kada, and Andrew Schlecht

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the Oklahoma City Thunder’s thrilling 129-126 victory over the Denver Nuggets, a clash widely touted as one of the NBA games of the year and a potential Western Conference Finals preview. The hosts analyze the late-game heroics of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the unique context of key absences for the Thunder, the implications for the MVP race, and what the game reveals about both contenders’ postseason outlooks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Epic Finish & Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Brilliance

[02:36 – 05:23]

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) had a career-defining night, capped with two massive step-back threes in the final seconds.
  • He finished with 35 points, 9 rebounds, and a career-high 15 assists, plus two blocks and just four free throw attempts.
• Crucial Sequences:
  • First dagger: SGA hits a step-back three to put OKC up 4 late.
  • Jokic answers with his own three, but J Will fouls Jamal Murray off the ball—“one of the dumbest plays of his life” ([03:18], Andrew Schlecht quoting J Will).
  • Murray makes the technical free throw; the Thunder lead by only one with 8.5 seconds left.
  • Thunder draw up a play; SGA nails another step-back three from the right wing, “gives the deuces to the Nuggets,” sealing the win ([04:24], Andrew Schlecht).

“He basically hit two game-winners in this game. One of the best games probably of his career tonight.”
— Andrew Schlecht ([04:24])

• Atmosphere: The arena was “on fire” post-shot, SGA was animated, talking to the bench, Denver, and the crowd.

“This was the first time I had seen SGA so hyped up, so revved up… it just goes to show how much this particular matchup matters to OKC.”
— Zena Kada ([05:23])

2. Thunder’s Depth Tested — and Proven

[06:21 – 07:31]

• OKC was missing key players: Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Alex Caruso.
• Their ability to defeat a full-strength Nuggets squad, especially lacking their size and two-way contributors, further legitimizes OKC as a contender.
• SGA’s efficient production—particularly only drawing four free throws—was highlighted as evidence of his offensive diversity and balance.

“…beating them without those guys was really big…They played a full-strength Nuggets team and for them to go and beat a full-strength Nuggets team without any of their main bigs, I think was a really big deal.”
— Andrew Schlecht ([06:21])

3. The MVP Conversation & Referee Criticisms

[07:32 – 10:42]

• Discussion on Mike Brown and Steve Kerr’s recent comments suggesting SGA is adept at selling fouls.
  • Steve Kerr: “Don’t hate the player, hate the game.”
  • Mike Brown: SGA does a great job “convincing refs that he’s getting fouled.” ([09:55], Zena Kada)
• Hosts note SGA drew only four FTs this game, yet delivered an MVP-level performance.
• Andrew and Dave agree these tactics are common among superstars; SGA’s scoring methods go far beyond drawing fouls.
  • Dave: “The one thing that everyone talks about with Shay is the off-arm shove. Well, LeBron James has done that for his entire career…” ([08:48])

“All the greats do it.”
— Andrew Schlecht ([10:12])

• The panel acknowledges the aesthetics of modern officiating (many players trying to draw fouls) can be tough for viewers, but SGA’s game remains dynamic beyond such plays.

4. Jalen Williams (“J Will”) Emergence

[12:21 – 14:44]

• J Will had one of the best games of his career, stepping into a huge role:
  • Matched minutes with Jokic (40 mins), scored 29 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists.
  • Shot 7-11 from three — most threes by a Thunder center ever.
  • Noted for his athleticism and growth; came up big despite a late-game gaffe (off-ball foul on Murray).

“He was so tired…Mark [Daigneault] told him right before the game, ‘You’re going to match Jokic minute for minute.’”
— Andrew Schlecht ([12:21])

• Panel compares J Will to modern NBA starters; Zena suggests, if Brook Lopez can start, J Will can too.

5. Nuggets’ Performance and Adjustments

[17:45 – 21:47]

• Aaron Gordon dominated early (19 points in Q1), exploiting the Thunder’s lack of bigs, but OKC adjusted: more Lu Dort and shooting, reduced Case and Wallace’s minutes (foul trouble).
• Jokic’s Pacing: Quiet first half with only six shots; explodes in the third, nearly carrying Denver down the stretch but falls just short.
  • Zena posits Jokic’s lower early aggression may be to conserve defensive energy.

6. Denver’s Defense — Playoff Concerns

[21:47 – 23:14]

• Nuggets lack resistance on both perimeter and interior, making life easy for OKC’s drivers and shooters.
• Tim Hardaway Jr.: Hit eight threes but was “giving just as much back” on defense ([21:47]).
• Bruce Brown and Cam Johnson are defensive liabilities; Christian Braun is the only reliable wing defender in the current mix.
• Denver’s regular season habits don’t always translate to playoff defense, but serious questions remain if the status quo holds.

“If this is who shows up, this team’s not getting out of round one — the West is too hard.”
— Andrew Schlecht ([23:14])

7. Outlook for the Western Conference

[24:10 – 25:35]

• OKC and Denver remain the favorites due to experience, with San Antonio (anchored by Wembanyama) as the next biggest threat.
  • Minnesota, Houston, and the Lakers are flawed: questionable closing, defense, or matchup issues with OKC.
• If OKC has its nucleus healthy, they’re seen as the team to beat; if Hartenstein or Jalen Williams are out, playoff series could get “really tight.”

“If we’re talking about winning another title, they’ve got to have those two guys [Jalen Williams and Hartenstein].”
— Andrew Schlecht ([27:08])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On SGA’s late-game heroics:
  “He gives the deuces to the Nuggets…I mean he basically hit two game winners in this game.”
  — Andrew Schlecht ([04:24])

• On officiating and veteran foul-drawing:
  “The one thing that everyone talks about with Shay is the off-arm shove. Well, LeBron James has done that for his entire career… I don’t think that’s something the NBA is going to start calling. This is not new.”
  — Dave DuFour ([08:48])

• Thunder missing key players but winning:
  “Beating them without those guys was really big…They played a full-strength Nuggets team and for them to go and beat a full-strength Nuggets team without any of their main bigs, I think was a really big deal.”
  — Andrew Schlecht ([06:21])

• On Denver’s defensive outlook:
  “If this is who shows up, this team’s not getting out of round one — the West is too hard.”
  — Andrew Schlecht ([23:14])

Important Timestamps

• [02:08] – Episode intro; game preview
• [03:03] – Breakdown of Thunder’s wild win (end-of-game sequence)
• [04:24] – SGA’s “deuces” moment; career-high night
• [05:23] – SGA’s intensity, impact on OKC psyche
• [06:21] – The significance of winning shorthanded
• [07:32] – MVP talk, refereeing criticism, SGA’s efficiency
• [08:48] – LeBron comparison on foul-drawing
• [12:21] – J Will’s standout performance and matchup minute-by-minute with Jokic
• [17:45] – Nuggets’ game plan: Aaron Gordon’s Q1 eruption and Jokic’s pacing
• [21:47] – Nuggets’ defensive struggles; playoff implication doubts
• [24:10] – Western Conference hierarchy and OKC rivals
• [27:08] – Importance of Thunder’s depth and injury status heading into playoffs

Takeaways

• Thunder: Legitimate contenders, even with major injuries, thanks to SGA’s MVP form and a rising supporting cast. J Will’s growth is a revelation.
• Nuggets: Still dangerous, but perimeter/int paint defense must improve for another deep playoff run. Jokic’s energy management is both a tool and a risk.
• Western Conference: OKC, Denver, and San Antonio are the most dangerous teams. The rest are unsteady and could be first-round exits.
• SGA’s MVP case: Only strengthened by this display — efficiency, clutch shot-making, and elite playmaking under the spotlight.

For more in-depth Thunder commentaries, listen to Andrew Schlecht’s "Down to Dunk."