Isaiah Joe exploded for a career-high 34 points on 10-of-16 shooting from three-point range, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a dominant 126-114 victory over the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on Tuesday night.
The 25-year-old guard connected on 62.5% of his attempts from beyond the arc, matching the third-highest single-game three-point total in franchise history. Joe’s performance helped the Thunder improve to 31-6 on the season, extending their lead atop the Western Conference standings.
Record-Breaking Night in Denver
Joe’s 10 made threes tied him with several players for the eighth-most in a single NBA game. The former Arkansas standout entered the contest averaging 9.2 points per game while shooting 40.1% from deep.
“I’ve been putting in extra work with the coaching staff on my shot selection,” Joe said postgame. “Tonight everything felt good leaving my hands.”
The breakout performance came at a crucial time for Oklahoma City, which entered the matchup without All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander due to a right ankle sprain. Jalen Williams added 24 points and eight assists, while Chet Holmgren contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Thunder Offense Overwhelms Denver
Oklahoma City shot 52.3% from the field and connected on 22-of-45 three-point attempts (48.9%) against a Nuggets defense that ranks 14th in defensive rating this season. The Thunder’s ball movement created open looks throughout the night, as they tallied 30 assists on 46 made field goals.
Denver struggled to contain the Thunder’s perimeter attack despite strong individual efforts from Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. The three-time MVP finished with 28 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists, while Murray added 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting.
“We knew they were going to try to get Isaiah going early,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “We didn’t do a good enough job rotating and contesting his shots.”
Bench Production Sparks Second-Half Run
The Thunder’s second unit outscored Denver’s reserves 48-21, with Joe accounting for 22 of those points. His hot shooting helped Oklahoma City build a 98-85 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Joe connected on six threes in the second half alone, including back-to-back attempts during a 12-0 run that put the game away with 7:23 remaining. The Thunder extended their lead to as many as 18 points down the stretch.
Western Conference Implications
The victory moved Oklahoma City 4.5 games ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies for the conference’s top seed. The Thunder have now won 12 of their last 14 games while maintaining the league’s best net rating at plus-12.8.
Denver drops to 22-15 on the season, falling to fourth place in the competitive Western Conference playoff race. The Nuggets have alternated wins and losses over their last eight games while dealing with inconsistent defensive performances.
Joe’s emergence provides additional scoring depth for a Thunder team already featuring one of the deepest rosters in the NBA. The shooting guard has started 28 of 37 games this season while serving as a reliable floor spacer alongside the team’s primary playmakers.
Oklahoma City returns home to face the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night, while Denver begins a four-game road trip against the Phoenix Suns on Friday.
