Hey basketball fans! Do you ever wonder how the Denver Nuggets vs OKC Thunder timeline became one of the most exciting stories in the NBA? This guide is made super easy so even young fans or new fans can enjoy it. We will walk through every important year, every crazy playoff series, and all the cool stats. Let’s jump in!
How It All Started – Before OKC Was Even OKC
Long ago, the Thunder used to be the Seattle SuperSonics. Denver played them a lot from 2000 to 2008. Those games were fun, but the real Denver Nuggets vs OKC Thunder history started in 2008 when the team moved to Oklahoma City.
The very first game as the Thunder happened on October 29, 2008. Denver won big, 98–94. Everyone knew something special was starting.
The Kevin Durant & Russell Westbrook Years (2008–2016)
Young Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook joined the Thunder. They were fast, strong, and loved to dunk! Denver still had Carmelo Anthony, one of the best scorers ever.
- 2008–09 season: Denver swept them 4–0. Easy start for the Nuggets!
- 2009–10 season: OKC got much better and won 3 out of 4 games.
- 2010–11 season: First playoff meeting! The Thunder beat the Nuggets 4–1. Durant and Westbrook were too good.
From 2011 to 2016 the Thunder were one of the best teams in the whole NBA. They went to the Finals in 2012 and kept winning against Denver most of the time.
Best moment for OKC fans: Christmas Day 2010 – Thunder won 114–106 and Westbrook got a triple-double (19 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists). Denver fans still remember how loud the OKC crowd was!
The Rise of Nikola Jokić and the Denver Comebacks (2016–2020)
After Kevin Durant left OKC in 2016, many people thought the Thunder would not be good anymore. But Russell Westbrook became a superhero! He even averaged a triple-double for three seasons in a row.
Meanwhile, Denver found their own superstar – Nikola Jokić from Serbia. He can pass, shoot, and rebound better than almost anyone.
2018–19 season highlights:
- Regular season: Teams split 2–2.
- Playoffs (First Round): The series went all 7 games! Jamal Murray hit a huge shot in Game 7 and Denver won 100–96. Denver fans went crazy1!
2019–20 season (inside the bubble because of COVID):
Another 7-game series! Denver was down 3–1 but came back and won 4–3. Jokić had many triple-doubles. OKC fans were sad, but they were proud of how hard their team fought.
The New Stars: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Takes Over (2021–Now)
After many trades, OKC got a new leader – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (everyone calls him SGA). He is smooth, fast, and scores a lot of points. Denver still had Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon.
2022–23 season: Denver won the NBA Championship! They beat OKC 3–1 in the regular season. Jokić was named MVP again.
2023–24 season: OKC became the youngest #1 seed ever! They beat Denver 3–1 in regular season games. Shai scored 40+ points twice against Denver.
2024–25 season (the most recent one):
The regular season ended 2–2. Both teams were amazing. Then came the 2025 Western Conference Semifinals – the biggest Nuggets vs Thunder head-to-head series ever!
The Epic 2025 Playoff Series – Game by Game (Super Easy Recap)
Game 1 (in OKC): Thunder won 118–109. Shai had 34 points.
Game 2 (in OKC): Thunder won again 112–105. OKC up 2–0!
Game 3 (in Denver): Nuggets fought back 120–110. Jokić had a triple-double.
Game 4 (in Denver): Thunder stole one 115–108. OKC led 3–1.
Game 5 (in OKC): Jokić exploded for 41 points! The Nuggets won 112–105.
Game 6 (in Denver): Nuggets won 118–110. Series tied 3–3!
Game 7 (in OKC): Thunder blew them out 125–93. Biggest playoff win ever between these teams. Shai had 30, Chet Holmgren blocked 7 shots, and OKC went to the Conference Finals2.
That series had everything – comebacks, blowouts, and superstar plays. It is already one of the best OKC Thunder vs Denver Nuggets rivalry moments ever!
All-Time Numbers Made Simple
Here are the big stats every fan wants to know:
| Type of Games | Thunder Wins | Nuggets Wins | Total Games |
| Regular Season | 107 | 96 | 203 |
| Playoff Games | 16 | 12 | 28 |
| Games in Denver | 48 | 62 | 110 |
| Games in OKC | 75 | 46 | 121 |
So OKC is ahead overall, but Denver wins a lot more when they play at home because of the high altitude!
Top 10 Biggest Games in the Denver vs OKC game history
- 2025 Game 7 – Thunder 125, Nuggets 93
- 2020 Bubble Game 7 – Nuggets win 104–89
- 2019 Game 7 – Jamal Murray game-winner
- 2011 Christmas Day – Westbrook triple-double
- 2009 Carmelo 50-point game vs Seattle (before move)
- Jokić 41-point Game 5 in 2025
- Shai 40-point game in 2023
- 2013 Andre Miller game-winning layup in OT
- 2023 Jamal Murray 40-point explosion
- 2025 regular season – Nuggets 140, Thunder 127 (super high score!)
Why This Rivalry Is So Much Fun
- Two of the best players in the world play each other (Jokić vs Shai)
- Almost every playoff series goes to 6 or 7 games
- Young teams with bright futures
- Fans love to argue who is better!
- Perfect mix of scoring, passing, and defense
Fun Facts for Young Fans and New Fans
- Nikola Jokić once passed the ball behind his head for an assist against OKC!
- Shai wears number 2 because his dad loved the number.
- The Thunder mascot is named Rumble the Bison.
- Denver’s arena is nicknamed “The Can” because it gets so loud.
- Altitude in Denver makes visiting teams tired – that’s why home teams win more3!
FAQs
What is the all-time record between Denver Nuggets and OKC Thunder?
As of 2025, Thunder leads 107–96 in regular-season games and 16–12 in playoff games.
How many times have they met in the playoffs?
A: Five times (2009, 2011, 2019, 2020, and 2025). Four of the five series went to at least 6 games!
Who won the most recent playoff series?
OKC Thunder won the 2025 Western Conference Semifinals 4–3, including a huge 125–93 Game 7.
What is the biggest blowout ever between them?
OKC 125 – Denver 93 in Game 7 of the 2025 playoffs (32-point win).
What is the highest-scoring game?
March 10, 2025 – Denver won 140–127 (267 total points).
Who has the most points in a single game in this rivalry?
Nikola Jokić dropped 41 points in Game 5 of the 2025 playoffs.
Does playing in Denver really help the Nuggets?
Yes! Because of the high altitude, Denver has won 62 out of 110 home games against OKC (56% win rate at home).
What is the longest win streak in the rivalry?
OKC won 8 games in a row from 2014 to 2016.
Which player has the most triple-doubles against the other team?
Nikola Jokić and Russell Westbrook – both have several, but Jokić has the record in playoff games.
In Conclusion – The Never-Ending Story
The Denver Nuggets vs OKC Thunder timeline is one of the coolest stories in basketball. It has superstar players, heartbreaking losses, amazing comebacks, and games that make you jump off the couch. Right now OKC has won a few more times, but Denver always fights back. With Jokić, Murray, Shai, and Chet still young, we will see many more epic games in the future!
So tell us – what is your favorite moment from the Denver Nuggets vs OKC Thunder history? Was it Jamal Murray’s shot, Jokić’s 41-point game, or the huge Game 7 in 2025? Drop your answer below and let’s keep the conversation going!
References
- 2025 Game 7 box score – the huge blowout! ↩︎
- Land of Basketball game log – every game since 2008 ↩︎
- ESPN full team comparison – see stats side by side ↩︎
