OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drilled a step-back 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds left to cap a frantic final minute on a night he matched Wilt Chamberlain’s record for consecutive 20-point games, and the Oklahoma City beat the Denver Nuggets 129-126 on Monday night.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 35 points and a career-high 15 assists, becoming the second player in NBA history to have those totals and zero turnovers. He also had nine rebounds. In the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander reached the 20-point mark for the 126th straight game, equaling Chamberlain’s streak from 1961-63.
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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) shoots against Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March, 9 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, left, drives against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Mar. 9, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrates during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Monday, Mar. 9, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrates with teammates after the second half of an NBA basketbal against the Denver Nuggetsl game Monday, March 9, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) gestures during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Monday, March 9, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
With Oklahoma City leading 126-122, Denver's Nikola Jokic hit a 3-pointer and Oklahoma City's Jaylin Williams was called for an off-ball foul fighting through a screen. Jamal Murray made the free throw with 8.5 seconds remaining to tie the game.
Gilgeous-Alexander responded, elevating over Spencer Jones for his second 3 in the final 14 seconds. Denver's Aaron Gordon missed a 61-foot heave at the buzzer.
The Thunder are 6-0 since Gilgeous-Alexander returned from an abdominal strain that sidelined him for nine games.
Williams scored 29 points and Ajay Mitchell, in his return after missing 20 games with an abdominal strain and a sprained left ankle, added 24 points.
Jokic had 32 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists. It was his 24th triple-double of the season and the 188th of his career. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 28 points and Gordon added 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets.
The Thunder were missing starters Chet Holmgren (illness), Isaiah Hartenstein (bruised left calf) and Jalen Williams (strained right hamstring) and key reserve Alex Caruso (bruised left hip).
Oklahoma City won a contentious game against the Nuggets on Feb. 27. Thunder guard Lu Dort was ejected and the game was filled with physical play and hard fouls.
Gordon, who missed the previous game against Oklahoma City with a strained right hamstring, scored 17 points in the first 5 1/2 minutes to help the Nuggets take a double-digit lead.
Oklahoma City led 66-60 at halftime, with Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 17 points.
The Thunder led by eight with just over two minutes remaining before Denver rallied to set up the tight finish.
Nuggets: Host Houston on Wednesday.
Thunder: Host Boston on Thursday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) shoots against Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March, 9 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, left, drives against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Mar. 9, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrates during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Monday, Mar. 9, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrates with teammates after the second half of an NBA basketbal against the Denver Nuggetsl game Monday, March 9, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) gestures during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Monday, March 9, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
The Raiders have the most salary-cap space in the NFL, and they are spending like it.
Las Vegas agreed to deals with multiple players Monday to give first-year coach Klint Kubiak a running start in turning around a franchise that went 3-14 last season and hasn't won a playoff game in more than two decades.
Several people familiar with the contractual details confirmed the agreements and their terms to The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the contracts weren't finalized.
Among the agreements:
— Three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum agreed to a three-year, $81 million contract with $60 million guaranteed. He spent his first four seasons in Baltimore.
— Linebacker Quay Walker, who exceeded 100 tackles in all four seasons in Green Bay, agreed to a three-year, $40.5 million contract with $28 million guaranteed.
— Linebacker Nakobe Dean, who had four sacks in 10 games last season in Philadelphia, reached terms on a three-year, $36 million contract with $20 million guaranteed.
— Wide receiver Jalen Nailor agreed to three-year, $35 million deal with $23 million guaranteed.
— Kicker Matt Gay will sign, according to his agents, David Canter and Ness Mugrabi, signaling the end of Daniel Carlson's days in Las Vegas. Canter said terms would be revealed Tuesday.
— Cornerback Eric Stokes re-signed with the Raiders for three years and $30 million, with $20 million guaranteed. The club announced the deal, but did not provide terms.
Second-year general manager John Spytek didn't waste time in using all his assets to spark a turnaround. The Raiders also enter next season with their third coach in three years and hope to end that trend.
The Raiders entered free agency with nearly $112 million in cap space, according to overthecap.com. They also have the No. 1 overall draft pick, and are widely expected to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, as well as the 14th selection after agreeing to trade defensive end Maxx Crosby to Baltimore on Friday.
Las Vegas also is expected to cut veteran quarterback Geno Smith.
The deal for Linderbaum, at $27 million per year, makes him the highest-paid interior offensive lineman, according to overthecap.com.
Landing Linderbaum is a massive get for the Raiders, whose offensive line struggled through injuries and subpar play. Las Vegas allowed an NFL-high 64 sacks last season and was last in rushing yards per game (77.5) and per attempt (3.57).
It didn't help that the Raiders' best lineman, left tackle Kolton Miller, played just four games before going on season-ending injured reserve after hurting his ankle.
With Miller expected back to play alongside Linderbaum, the Raiders have two major pieces to build around. Pro Football Focus rated Linderbaum the fifth-best center among 40 at that position.
The Raiders also get back third-year interior lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson, who has dealt with injuries and inconsistency but could have a high ceiling. He lost the center job in training camp to Jordan Meredith last season and switched to guard. The Raiders released guard Alex Cappa on Friday, clearing the way for Powers-Johnson to take hold of the position.
“Can’t wait to get to work,” Powers-Johnson posted on social media in reaction to the Linderbaum agreement.
Walker and Dean are being brought in to help first-year defensive coordinator Rob Leonard's expected switch from a 4-3 to 3-4 defense. The Raiders' group of linebackers took a major hit last season when Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo left in free agency and weren't adequately replaced.
Signing with the Raiders represents a homecoming for Nailor, who played in high school at Las Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman. He spent all four seasons in Minnesota and comes off career highs of 29 catches for 444 yards. Nailor also caught four touchdown passes.
The Raiders likely remain in the hunt for a No. 1 wide receiver after trading Jakobi Meyers to Jacksonville in November. Their offense took a major hit without a receiver capable of taking pressure off tight end Brock Bowers. Nailor could be part of the equation of opening up the offense.
Carlson's days with the Raiders appeared to be over when the organization didn't extend his contract in the offseason. He was with the franchise since 2018 when it was still in Oakland. His field goal percentage has been on a steady decline, and last season he made 81.5% of his kicks for his lowest since converting 73.1% in 2019.
Gay has played for five teams over seven years, most recently Washington and San Francisco last season. He has been deadly accurate from inside 50 yards, converting 92.6% of his career attempts. The number drops to 59.3% from 50-plus.
Stokes signed a one-year contract with the Raiders last season after spending his first four years in Green Bay. He started 16 games to give Las Vegas some stability at an otherwise shaky position, finishing with five pass breakups and 53 tackles. Both were his second-best career totals, behind his rookie-season numbers of 14 pass breakups and 55 tackles.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
FILE - Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker heads off the field after the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski,File)
FILE - Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes smiles after an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Dec. 21, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker, file)
FILE - Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum in action during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Oct. 26, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams, file)
