Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 40 points, including 17 in the third quarter, and Oklahoma City overcame another efficient shooting game from Nikola Jokic to beat Denver 119-93 in the NBA.

Gilgeous-Alexander topped 40 points for the fifth time this season and was four shy of his career best. He was 14-of-20 from the field and made all 10 of his free-throw attempts in Colorado on Saturday (AEDT).

Chet Holmgren scored 24 points and had two blocks, while Australia’s Josh Giddey registered 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

The Thunder (21-9) have won three straight and eight of their last 10 to surge past the defending champion Nuggets in the Northwest Division. Denver (23-11), who had their six-game winning streak snapped, have lost just three home games this season and the last two have come against OKC.

Jokic finished with 19 points, from 9-of-10 shots, and 10 boards, but committed seven turnovers, two shy of his career high.

The Thunder led by six at halftime and used a 19-4 run to go ahead 75-58 midway through the third quarter.

The Thunder led by six at halftime and used a 19-4 run to go ahead 75-58 midway through the third quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 11 points late in the period to put Oklahoma City ahead 88-68 heading into the fourth.

The Nuggets got within 93-78 on Reggie Jackson’s 3-pointer but Jalen Williams hit two from deep and Kenrich Williams another from behind the line to give the Thunder a 102-80 lead.

Denver made one last push but Holmgren’s fourth 3-pointer of the night made it 107-87 with 4:14 left.

“You’ve got to be clean with the ball, you can’t play in a crowd,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said of the turnovers.

“It’s something they do to most teams, but you’re not going to give yourself a chance to win when you allow them to play to their strength.”

Elsewhere, there were wins for Philadelphia, Phoenix, Orlando, Sacramento and Washington.