The Denver Nuggets just couldn't make a basket in the first quarter or defend the Oklahoma City Thunder, losing, 31-15, after the first quarter. The Thunder opened with back-to-back threes from Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant for the early 6-0 lead and took off from there. For the first four minutes of the game the Nuggets couldn't even make a basket.
Kendrick Perkins committed a flagrant-1 foul, which sent Wilson Chandler to the foul line. He made both, and then Nene made one of two free throws after he was fouled. Ty Lawson made a layup for the team's first bucket with 7:58 left on the clock. But overall they are shooting 29.4 percent from the field (5-17). They have already committed seven turnovers.
The Thunder, though, came out with a ton of energy and took advantage of the Nuggets' flat start. Serge Ibaka has been around the glass all quarter, pulling down rebounds. They have outrebounded Denver, 15-6. Kevin Durant leads the team with seven points.
George Karl picked up a technical foul for yelling at the refs after they did not call a foul on Ibaka late in the quarter.
The Nuggets will need to regroup an figure things out fast if they hope to stay in this game.