The OKC Thunder swarmed the Denver Nuggets defensively, aiding in a 102-87 victory to kick off its season. The Thunder got the most from its star players on both sides of the ball and controlled the tempo of the game for seemingly the entire 48 minutes.
A slow first-quarter start tainted the Thunder quickly, getting down 18-10 with six minutes remaining in the opening section of the game. A few wild sequences shortly after catapulted the Thunder ahead by its end, leading 31-24 when the clock hit zero.
OKC’s defensive prowess as a unit was on full display in the first quarter and only improved as the game went on. They did allow 24 points to start, but the amount of deflections and ability to disrupt shots at the rim helped the Thunder gain the lead…