Nikola Jokić scored 42 factors and grabbed 22 rebounds, whereas Aaron Gordon hit a late three-pointer to present the Denver Nuggets a dramatic 121-119 win over the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Monday night time.
The Thunder, who had no timeouts left, missed a last-second shot as Recreation 1 of their Western Convention semi-final resulted in defeat.
Denver’s Russell Westbrook, taking part in his first playoff sport in Oklahoma Metropolis as an opponent, handed to Gordon for the profitable shot. Westbrook started his NBA profession with the Thunder.
Gordon ended the night time with 22 factors and 14 rebounds. Jamal Murray added 21 factors for the Nuggets, who’re the fourth seed. They’d simply completed a troublesome seven-game sequence towards the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.
Denver bought their likelihood after Thunder’s Chet Holmgren missed two free throws whereas his group was one level forward.
“Once I shot it, did I do know it was in?” Gordon stated. “I knew it wasn’t a miss.” Gordon had additionally scored a buzzer-beater dunk within the earlier sequence towards the Clippers.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 33 factors, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. Alex Caruso added 20 factors, six assists, and 5 steals. The Thunder have been taking part in their first sport in over per week after sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies within the first spherical.
Jokić bumped into foul bother within the third quarter, selecting up three fouls in two minutes after having only one within the first half. He stayed on the court docket with the Thunder forward 73-64. The Nuggets fought again and trailed solely 90-85 by the tip of the third quarter.
Later, with the Thunder up 104-95 and fewer than seven minutes to go, Jokić caught Lu Dort within the head together with his elbow throughout a drive. After a overview, it was known as a flagrant foul. It was Jokić’s fifth foul, and Dort made each free throws.
Nonetheless, Denver stored combating and managed to show the sport round.
