By the end of the third quarter, it looked like the OKC Thunder had forgotten their eighth game against the Denver Nuggets.

Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. had different ideas for the Nuggets. An impressive comeback led by Denver's stars contributed to the 124-122 win, ending OKC's consecutive winning streak. With six minutes left in the third quarter, OKC led 84-73. Center Chet Holmgren and star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander provided support at every level for OKC, and although the lead was surmountable, they appeared satisfied.

That feeling of comfort didn't last long, as the duo of Jokic and Porter led a comeback that gave OKC a scare. Porter did a great job getting to the free throw line during this stretch, and Jokic did what he does best: getting his shots in the air. Combined with OKC's losing streak, the two teams were tied at 95 points at the end of the quarter.

Here too, the first half was completely led by the Thunder. Jalen Williams led the way with 15 points and Holmgren was close behind. OKC shot just well enough to maintain an average lead, but was active as usual on the defensive side of the ball.

Surprisingly, the Nuggets' veteran guard Russell Westbrook had a tremendous performance. He finished with 29 points, six rebounds and six assists, by far his best game of the early season. Without his performance, Denver certainly would have been out of the game. His acrobatic finishing and 75% three-point percentage were key factors in his outstanding play.

Going into the fourth quarter, it was clear that the game would come down to the wire and that Denver would test the composure of this young team to maintain their winning streak. Westbrook scored the first three points of the final period with a layup, followed by a three-pointer from Porter and two more from Westbrook. These weren't continuous points, as Gilgeous-Alexander reached the rim and second-year guard Cason Wallace did the same shortly after.

The two teams went back and forth, with Denver holding a seven-point lead with 3:24 left. Peyton Watson gave Denver that lead, and their undefeated streak seemed most in jeopardy up to that point. Denver stayed comfortably ahead thanks to its relentless defensive pressure.

With 1:44 left and six minutes behind, Gilgeous-Alexander dribbled the ball off his foot and committed an offense in the backcourt. Watson made another layup to extend the lead to eight, but Williams responded with a retreating mid-range shot and a transition three-pointer. From that moment on, OKC was under pressure to get a stop. On a scramble play with the shot clock running out and less than 30 total seconds remaining, Jokic was fouled, giving the Nuggets the ball but making it just one-on-two. A quick layup from Gilgeous-Alexander made the game even more interesting.

After missing two free throws, Watson was called upon to make two free throws on the Nuggets' final defensive possession of the game. Gilgeous-Alexander raced down the court, drove to the basket and was rejected by Watson to seal the game for the Nuggets.

OKC fell to 7-1 with its first loss of the season and was led by Williams with 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, nearly a triple-double. Despite missing the final basket, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points and six assists for the Thunder.

The next game for OKC is Friday, November 8th at 7pm CT against the Houston Rockets.

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