Three play dates into the 2025–26 NBA season and the action is already at fever pitch, as both of Friday’s featured games—Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors—went into overtime.
Thunder Clip Pacers in Finals Rematch
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped the season’s first 50-piece on Friday, firing 55 for the Oklahoma City Thunder in a hard-earned 141-135 triumph over the Indiana Pacers in double overtime at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in an early-season matchup between last season’s finalists.
SGA, last season’s regular-season and Finals MVP, added 8 rebounds and 5 assists and went 15-for-31 from the field and 23-for-26 from the line. Aaron Wiggins was the unsung hero for the Thunder with his 23 points on five triples, while Chet Holmgren chipped in 15 markers and 12 boards.
Bennedict Mathurin and Pascal Siakam carried the fight for the Pacers, who will be without All-Star Tyrese Haliburton for the foreseeable future. Mathurin put up 36 big points on top of 11 rebounds, while Siakam had 32 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 assists. Obi Toppin added 15 off the Indiana bench.
Warriors Outlast Nuggets Behind Steph Curry Masterpiece
Steph Curry showed he has plenty of gas left in the tank in leading the Golden State Warriors to a 137-131 overtime victory over fellow contender Denver Nuggets at Oracle Arena.
Curry finished with a team-high 42 points, including the game-tying three at the end of regulation, where the Warriors uncorked a 12-2 run right at the start to pull away. Curry was 14-for-25 overall and 6-for-12 from downtown. He also got plenty of support as six other Warriors finished in double digits, led by Jimmy Butler’s 21. Al Horford and Buddy Hield added 13 and 11, respectively, off the Golden State bench.
Curry’s heroics and that balanced Warriors attack helped overcome Aaron Gordon’s 50-point effort anchored on 10-for-11 shooting from deep. Jamal Murray added 23 points and 10 assists, but Nikola Jokic was limited to just 21 markers on 8-for-23 shooting. He did have 13 boards and 10 dimes for the triple-double.
