The Oklahoma City Thunder marked the return of star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with a gritty 127-121 overtime victory over Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.

The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player poured in 36 points in just under 34 minutes, though he did not feature in overtime after missing nine games with an abdominal strain.

“Felt good,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I’m just thankful to be back.”

Denver were far from accommodating hosts. Jamal Murray erupted for 39 points, while Jokić delivered another all-around masterclass with 23 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists. The Nuggets led by as many as 16 in a bruising, high-intensity contest.

Tempers flared in the third quarter when Thunder forward Luguentz Dort was ejected for a flagrant foul after tripping Jokić. The incident sparked a brief shoving match, resulting in technical fouls for Jokić and Oklahoma City’s Jaylin Williams.

Trailing 83-77 entering the fourth, the Thunder mounted a determined comeback. They edged ahead 107-105 with 1:23 remaining in regulation, only for Jokić to level the score with 38 seconds left. A crucial block from Christian Braun on Gilgeous-Alexander ensured overtime.

Oklahoma City seized control in the extra session, scoring the first five points and holding firm down the stretch to secure the win. The result maintains their two-game cushion over the San Antonio Spurs at the top of the Western Conference.

“It was a great game,” said Thunder center Chet Holmgren. “You want to play against the best players, the best teams, and they brought the intensity tonight.”

In the Eastern Conference, the league-leading Detroit Pistons also needed overtime to edge the Cleveland Cavaliers 122-119.

Cleveland led by nine with under three minutes remaining in regulation, but Detroit clawed back. Daniss Jenkins tied the game with three free throws after launching a desperate half-court attempt as Jaylon Tyson intentionally fouled him.

Detroit opened overtime with a 6-0 burst and never relinquished control. Jalen Duren dominated with 33 points and 16 rebounds, while Cade Cunningham contributed 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists before fouling out late.

Jarrett Allen paced Cleveland with 25 points, and Evan Mobley added 23 points and 12 boards. The Cavaliers were without James Harden (broken thumb) and Donovan Mitchell (groin strain).

The Pistons improved to 43-14 and now hold a five-game advantage over the Boston Celtics atop the East.

The Celtics responded emphatically to a recent loss in Denver, shooting a blistering 66.7 percent from the field in a 148-111 rout of the Brooklyn Nets.

Jaylen Brown and Nikola Vučević scored 28 points apiece, and Boston knocked down 22 of 34 attempts from three-point range.

Meanwhile, the New York Knicks cruised past the Milwaukee Bucks 127-98 to stay within 1.5 games of Boston in the race for second place in the East.

Jalen Brunson led the way with 27 points, while OG Anunoby added 24 as seven Knicks reached double figures. The victory came in response to a disappointing defeat against Cleveland.

Milwaukee, who had won eight of their previous 10 games, were again without Giannis Antetokounmpo due to a calf strain. Myles Turner scored 19 points — 18 of them in the first quarter — but the Knicks surged ahead behind Brunson’s 22 first-quarter points and led 77-57 at half-time, stretching the advantage to as many as 32.