May 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) during the second quarter in Game 1 of the second round at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images / Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Aaron Gordon drained a transition 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds left, and the Denver Nuggets escaped with a 121-119 victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Thunder led by eight points entering the final five minutes. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander knocked down a second-chance triple after Dort leapt for an offensive rebound. Jamal Murray then used a crossover into a pull-up — his first made shot since the early second quarter. Nikola Jokic converted two free throws after a back-court foul by Gilgeous-Alexander. Denver went 3-for-4 at the line on its next three possessions.
Jokic took Alex Caruso right to the hole and poured in a floater, getting the Nuggets within four points with 1:44 remaining. He then swished a top-of-the-key 3-pointer over Isaiah Hartenstein for his 40th point. Denver had an opportunity to take the lead with 30 seconds remaining, but Russell Westbrook missed an open three and Jalen Williams blocked Aaron Gordon’s putback attempt. Gilgeous-Alexander swished two intentional free throws with 14 seconds left.
Caruso fouled Jokic right after Murray inbounded the ball, and the Serbian superstar made both free throws, getting Denver within a point once again. Gilgeous-Alexander threw down an uncontested dunk, but Oklahoma City fouled Gordon up by three points. The forward drained both attempts before sealing the deal on the final possession.
Jokic stuffed the box score with 42 points on 15-for-29 shooting and 10-for-13 free throws, 22 rebounds (five offensive), six assists, two blocks and a steal. The Nuggets won his 42 minutes by 10 points.
Gordon finished with 22 points, 14 rebounds (seven offensive) and an assist. Murray registered 22 points on 6-for-16 shooting, six rebounds, six assists and a steal.
Caruso logged 20 points including five 3-pointers, six assists, five steals and two blocks in the losing effort.
Statistic
Thunder
Nuggets
Points
121
119
2-Pointers
27-for-57
32-for-63
3-Pointers
15-for-43
10-for-32
Free Throws
20-for-28
27-for-33
Turnovers
9
18
Offensive Rebounds
13
21
The Thunder started Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein.
The Nuggets started Murray, Christian Braun, Michael Porter Jr., Gordon and Jokic.
Jokic scored the first points of the game with a semi-transition floater. Jalen Williams responded immediately by swishing a pull-up fadeaway. Both teams scored on eight straight possessions from 9:31 to 7:44, as Gilgeous-Alexander, Hartenstein and Murray each made two field goals. Holmgren blocked consecutive Porter Jr. layup attempts, including a transition lob from Jokic, in his first stint. Gordon tipped in his own miss to give Denver a 17-12 lead midway through the quarter.
Westbrook converted a one-legged fadeaway before the Thunder blitzed out four straight layups. Holmgren laid in back-to-back driving attempts in transition, and Gilgeous-Alexander made a short jumper to put Oklahoma City in front for the first time. The home team missed all 10 3-point attempts but led 27-26 after 12 minutes.
Caruso knocked down the Thunder’s first triple a minute into the second quarter, as it scored on three straight trips to force a quick Nuggets timeout. He also intercepted a Murray pass toward the left corner, leading to an immediate and-one layup for Cason Wallace. Oklahoma City made its first four 3-point attempts during the second quarter and led 46-35 halfway through.
Jokic dropped in three interior baskets but committed multiple turnovers, as Dort registered his first and second made threes on back-to-back trips. Hartenstein made his third floater of the night before Jaylin Williams swished a wide-open 3-pointer. Braun closed the first half with a transition alley-oop from Murray. Oklahoma City maintained a 60-50 advantage at the break.
Caruso, in place of Hartenstein, began the third quarter with a back-court steal-and-slam — already his fourth takeaway. Denver ran its offense almost exclusively through Jokic, who reached 20 points and 15 rebounds within a few minutes. His third assist came on a Braun 3-pointer, which was the Nuggets’ first outside make since the first quarter. The big man picked up his fourth foul by pushing Holmgren as both were running upcourt. The Thunder led 73-64 midway through the frame.
Gilgeous-Alexander swished a four-point play against Murray for his 20th point, the first of three straight Oklahoma City triples. Denver, however, established itself in the paint by making cutting layups, drawing fouls and attacking the offensive glass. It reached 20 offensive rebounds by the end of the quarter, including six from Gordon, five from Jokic and four from Murray. Westbrook, who scored 10 third-quarter points, made a corner three to cut the Nuggets’ deficit to 90-85 entering the final 12 minutes.
The Thunder takes on the Nuggets in Game 2 this Wednesday, May 7 at 8:30 p.m. CST.
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