Denver Nuggets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Match Player Stats: Denver’s Bench Takes Center Stage
Denver defeated Oklahoma City 127–107 on April 10, 2026, in the teams’ latest NBA regular-season meeting. Jonas Valančiūnas led the Nuggets with 23 points and 17 rebounds, while Branden Carlson posted 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder. The result closed their 2025–26 regular-season series, but it came with a qualification: several stars on both sides did not play.
Denver Nuggets vs Oklahoma City Thunder match player stats
Valančiūnas gave Denver its strongest interior performance at Ball Arena. Julian Strawther and David Roddy added 22 and 21 points, respectively, giving the Nuggets three scorers above 20. Oklahoma City’s production was more spread out, with Carlson leading the team and Nikola Topić recording a game-high 11 assists. All figures below are from the April 10 regular-season game, not the teams’ later Summer League meeting.
| Team | Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Additional stat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | Jonas Valančiūnas | 23 | 17 | 4 | 2 blocks |
| Denver | Julian Strawther | 22 | 4 | 3 | 4 three-pointers |
| Denver | David Roddy | 21 | 2 | 0 | 8-of-12 shooting |
| Denver | Tim Hardaway Jr. | 13 | 1 | 3 | 3 three-pointers |
| Denver | Jalen Pickett | 13 | 4 | 4 | 3 three-pointers |
| Denver | Bruce Brown | 10 | 8 | 6 | 2 steals |
| Oklahoma City | Branden Carlson | 23 | 12 | 5 | 3 three-pointers |
| Oklahoma City | Kenrich Williams | 15 | 12 | 1 | 7 offensive rebounds |
| Oklahoma City | Jared McCain | 15 | 1 | 2 | 3 three-pointers |
| Oklahoma City | Nikola Topić | 14 | 2 | 11 | 4 steals |
| Oklahoma City | Brooks Barnhizer | 14 | 9 | 2 | 2 steals |
Source: NBA official scorer’s report. Points, rebounds and assists are individual game totals. statsdmz.nba.com
Valančiūnas and Denver’s supporting scorers delivered
Valančiūnas made 9 of 14 field-goal attempts and grabbed six offensive rebounds. His 17 total rebounds were the most by any player in the game. With Nikola Jokić out, Valančiūnas supplied the Nuggets with scoring close to the basket and extra possessions on the glass.
Denver also got timely scoring away from the rim. Strawther hit four of seven three-point attempts, while Roddy made eight of 12 shots off the bench. The three combined for 66 points, more than half of Denver’s total. Brown’s 10 points, eight rebounds and six assists added another useful all-around performance, even though it was less prominent in the scoring column.
Carlson led Oklahoma City, but the Thunder needed more efficiency
Carlson matched Valančiūnas with a game-high 23 points and added 12 rebounds and five assists. Williams also collected 12 boards, including seven on offense. Those efforts helped Oklahoma City secure 15 offensive rebounds to Denver’s 10, but the Thunder could not turn that advantage into a win.
Topić’s line showed both his influence and the difficulty of carrying a larger playmaking role: he had 14 points, 11 assists and four steals, alongside eight turnovers. McCain scored 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Oklahoma City found contributors, but Denver was the more accurate shooting team throughout the game.
The numbers that decided the game
| Team statistic | Nuggets | Thunder |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 47-of-93 (50.5%) | 42-of-99 (42.4%) |
| Three-pointers | 21-of-43 (48.8%) | 14-of-44 (31.8%) |
| Rebounds | 49 | 46 |
| Assists | 28 | 25 |
| Fast-break points | 16 | 9 |
| Final score | 127 | 107 |
Denver’s outside shooting was the clearest separator. The Nuggets made seven more three-pointers despite taking one fewer attempt from beyond the arc. Those extra makes accounted for 21 points—slightly more than the final margin. That comparison does not mean three-point shooting alone decided every possession, but it captures the scale of Denver’s advantage.
Oklahoma City briefly made the finish interesting by winning the third quarter 34–31. Denver’s lead stood at just five entering the fourth, 90–85. The Nuggets then won the last period 37–22, shooting 13-of-22 from the field in the quarter to pull away. The final score looks comfortable; the fourth-quarter execution is what made it so.
Denver also had room to overcome its mistakes. The Nuggets committed 17 turnovers to the Thunder’s 13, yet still shot better overall and produced seven more fast-break points. Oklahoma City generated extra chances on the offensive glass; Denver did more with its shooting opportunities.
Why April’s box score is only part of the rivalry
Jokić and Jamal Murray were inactive for Denver on April 10. Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren were among Oklahoma City’s inactive players. The NBA scorer’s report lists the availability reasons for that game; it should not be treated as a report on either team’s health entering the next season.
That matters when judging what the 20-point margin says about a future matchup. Denver’s supporting players earned the victory, but the April game did not put both teams’ leading scorers and playmakers on the floor against one another.
Their earlier 2025–26 regular-season meetings provide that broader picture:
| Date | Result | Defining performance |
|---|---|---|
| February 1, 2026 | Thunder 121, Nuggets 111 | Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points. |
| February 27, 2026 | Thunder 127, Nuggets 121 (OT) | Gilgeous-Alexander scored 36; Murray scored 39 for Denver. |
| March 9, 2026 | Thunder 129, Nuggets 126 | Gilgeous-Alexander had 35 points and 15 assists; Jokić had 32 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists. |
| April 10, 2026 | Nuggets 127, Thunder 107 | Valančiūnas led Denver with 23 points and 17 rebounds. |
Oklahoma City won the season series 3–1. The first three games included an overtime contest and a three-point finish, a different pattern from Denver’s late-season win. The teams also have recent playoff history: Oklahoma City won their 2025 Western Conference semifinal series 4–3. These are separate seasons and competitions, but together they explain why a new Nuggets–Thunder box score draws attention.
What to watch in their next meeting
The April stats point to two practical questions. Can Denver maintain its outside shooting when the lineups change? And can Oklahoma City combine the extra possessions it found on the offensive glass with better shot-making? Those are questions for the next game, not conclusions the April result can settle.
As of September 2026, the Nuggets’ schedule lists their next regular-season meeting at Oklahoma City on October 22, 2026. Any comparison of the teams’ stars should use that game’s confirmed lineups and updated box score once it is played.
Conclusion
FAQs
Who won the latest Nuggets vs. Thunder regular-season game?
The Nuggets won 127–107 on April 10, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. It was the teams’ final regular-season meeting of 2025–26.
Who led the Nuggets in points and rebounds?
Jonas Valančiūnas led Denver in both categories with 23 points and 17 rebounds.
Who had the most assists in the April 10 game?
Oklahoma City’s Nikola Topić had a game-high 11 assists. He also scored 14 points and recorded four steals.
Did Jokić and Gilgeous-Alexander play?
No. Both were inactive for the April 10 meeting. In their previous matchup on March 9, Jokić recorded a triple-double and Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 35 points and 15 assists. statsdmz.nba.com
Was April 10 the last time the teams played in any competition?
No. Denver beat Oklahoma City 106–103 in NBA Summer League on July 14, 2026. That was a Summer League game; the April 10 result remains their latest NBA regular-season meeting as of September 2026.
Read more : ErikkaPost.com Explained: What the Website Publishes and How to Use It
Denver’s April 10 win belonged to its supporting cast. Valančiūnas controlled the rebounds, Strawther and Roddy supplied scoring, and 21 made three-pointers helped the Nuggets turn a close game after three quarters into a convincing finish. Oklahoma City had standout efforts from Carlson and Topić, but its shooting could not keep pace. Follow our NBA coverage for the confirmed lineups, result and player stats when these teams meet again
Conversation