OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 36 points in his return after missing nine games with an abdominal strain and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Denver Nuggets 127-121 in overtime Friday night in a testy matchup that featured multiple technical fouls and an ejection.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, didn't play in overtime, but the Thunder still pulled through in the extra period.
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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort, back, tries to steal the ball from Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, drives past Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) falls into Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) as he goes after a rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, top, shoots over Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun, left, and guard Jamal Murray (27) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Denver's Nikola Jokic, who got into an altercation with Oklahoma City's Lu Dort in the fourth quarter, had 23 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists. Dort was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul.
Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, listed as questionable with an illness before the game, led the Nuggets with 39 points.
Gilgeous-Alexander started and drew loud applause when his name was announced in pregame introductions. His first basket came on a driving layup two minutes into the game.
The teams are very familiar with each other — the Thunder defeated the Nuggets 4-3 in the Western Conference semifinals last year. The Thunder won the first two meetings this season and they play twice more.
This matchup was physical from the start. Gilgeous-Alexander was called for an early technical because he threw the ball at Jokic, who made contact with him after play stopped. Denver's bench was called for a technical in the third quarter. There was plenty of talking and shoving throughout.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 18 points in the first half, but Denver led 59-50 after making 11 of 20 3-pointers before the break.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 14 points in the third quarter to help the Thunder chip away, but the Nuggets took an 83-77 lead into the fourth.
The Thunder started off hot in the fourth quarter, and Dort's 3-pointer finally put Oklahoma City up 86-85.
A few minutes later, Dort was ejected for a hard foul against Jokic that led to a scrum near midcourt and offsetting technicals on Jokic and Oklahoma City's Jaylin Williams.
Fittingly, the tightly contested game went to overtime tied at 107.
Nuggets: Host Minnesota on Sunday.
Thunder: At Dallas on Sunday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort, back, tries to steal the ball from Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, drives past Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) falls into Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) as he goes after a rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, top, shoots over Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun, left, and guard Jamal Murray (27) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP) — New Zealand backed into the Twenty20 World Cup semifinals when Pakistan could only narrowly beat Sri Lanka in a gripping match on Saturday.
Pakistan had to restrict Sri Lanka's chase to 147 to advance from the Super Eights at New Zealand's expense.
It looked achievable when Pakistan reduced Sri Lanka to 101-5 in the 12th over. But its hopes were foiled when Pavan Rathnayake and captain Dasun Shanaka led Sri Lanka to 148 in the 16th over.
But then Pakistan found itself in danger of failing to defend its highest ever T20 World Cup total, 212.
Shanaka began the last over against Shaheen Shah Afridi by slamming 4-6-6-6. Sri Lanka could pull off a heist with six runs needed off the last two balls.
But Shanaka missed trying to scoop the fifth ball and left the sixth, a yorker, thinking it was wide. It was not.
Pakistan won by five runs and bowed out of the tournament on net run rate, -0.123 to New Zealand's 1.390.
Sri Lanka was already out of semifinals contention but finished its fourth straight defeat to applause from its home crowd after going down swinging.
England, New Zealand and South Africa have nailed semifinal spots. Defending champion India — the only Asian team left — and the West Indies meet for the last spot on Sunday in Kolkata. With Pakistan knocked out, tournament co-host India will host both semifinals next week and the final on March 8.
Pakistan was made to bat first and openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman combined for 176 runs, the highest ever partnership in men's T20 World Cup history. They eclipsed the 175 by New Zealanders Tim Seifert and Finn Allen on Feb. 10.
Farhan's blistering 100 off 60 balls also blew away Virat Kohli’s single tournament runs record of 319 in 2014. Farhan passed Kohli when he reached 40. He has 383 after two centuries and two half-centuries.
Zaman was promoted to opener for the first time in the tournament and the left-hander slammed 84 off 42 balls as Pakistan posted 212-8.
The Sri Lanka bowlers erred in their lengths and Farhan and Zaman punished loose deliveries for boundaries. Sri Lanka could have broken their stand in the 11th over but didn’t go for a television referral when replays suggested Zaman edged behind.
Their stand of 176 came in 15.5 overs. Sri Lanka fought back with eight wickets in the final 26 balls for 36 runs.
Zaman played onto his stumps to fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera in the 16th over. Farhan fell in the final over soon after his century with five sixes and nine fours.
Fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka grabbed 3-33 and Shanaka took 2-42.
Sri Lanka's top order was rattled by Abrar Ahmed (3-23), one of the three changes by Pakistan, but with the ball getting wet because of dew, it became difficult for the bowlers to hit the right lengths.
Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq struggled with his grip and returned 0-43, ending his streak of consecutive T20 innings with a wicket at 26, two shy of the record.
Rathnayake anchored Sri Lanka with 58 off 37 and Shanaka almost achieved the miracle at the death. Shanaka smashed eight sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 76 off 31 balls.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan celebrates his century during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Pakistan's captain Salman Ali Agha reacts in the field during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Sri Lanka's Pavan Rathnayake loses his balance while playing a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Sri Lanka's captain Dasun Shanaka plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Sri Lanka's captain Dasun Shanaka, right, is consoled by teammate Dunith Wellalage after losing the T20 World Cup cricket match against Pakistan in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Pakistan's captain Salman Ali Agha warms up before the start of the T20 World Cup cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Pakistan's Babar Azam, left, warms up before the start of the T20 World Cup cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
