Gordon's game-winner, Jokic's 42
points, 22 rebounds lead Nuggets past Thunder in West semis Game 1
[May 06, 2025]
By CLIFF BRUNT
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Nikola Jokic showed why he's a finalist for
another MVP award with his historic stat line. But with Game 1 of
the Western Conference semifinals at stake, the ball again found
Aaron Gordon's hands.
Gordon hit a 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds remaining, supporting
Jokic's 42-point, 22-rebound effort and giving the Denver Nuggets a
stunning 121-119 comeback win over the top-seeded Oklahoma City
Thunder on Monday night.
It was the kind of finish one might expect of a team that won the
NBA title just two seasons ago.
“We just didn’t want to miss the moment, didn’t want to miss the
opportunity," Gordon said. "We knew that if we waited, it may be too
late. I’m glad we showed our mettle, our grit, but we’re not
satisfied.”
It was Gordon's second game-winner of the playoffs. His dunk on a
Jokic miss as time expired lifted the Nuggets past the Los Angeles
Clippers in Game 4 of their first-round series.
Gordon did much more than hit the deciding shot against the Thunder.
“Aaron’s going to be a hero again," Denver interim coach David
Adelman said. "But I’m also looking at 14 rebounds. I’m looking at
22 points. Looking at ball-handling responsibilities, leadership. He
is a Denver Nugget, man. Like, he is the soul of our team. So, cool
to see him have two moments that no one will forget.”
Jokic became just the fourth player to have at least 40 points, 20
rebounds and five assists in a playoff game.
Denver’s Russell Westbrook, who started his career with the Thunder,
assisted on Gordon’s game-winner. It was his first playoff game in
Oklahoma City as an opposing player.
Jamal Murray added 21 points for the fourth-seeded Nuggets, who
stole the opener after closing out a seven-game series against the
Clippers on Saturday.
Denver's opportunity came after Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren missed
two free throws with the Thunder leading by a point.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the other MVP finalist in the game, had 33
points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Thunder, who hadn't
played in more than a week after sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies in
the first round. Alex Caruso added 20 points, six assists and five
steals.
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Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic (15) reacts to an officials call as
Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren (7) looks on in the second
half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series
Monday, May 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Jokic picked up three fouls during a two-minute
stretch in the third quarter after committing just one foul in the
first half. He stayed in the game with the Thunder leading 73-64.
The Nuggets closed the gap to 90-85 by the end of the third quarter.
With the Thunder leading 104-95 and just under seven minutes
remaining, Jokic elbowed Oklahoma City's Lu Dort in the head on a
drive, and the play was reviewed. The play was ruled a flagrant 1 on
Jokic — his fifth foul — and Dort made two free throws.
Denver spent the rest of the game closing the gap, and Jokic never
picked up the sixth foul.
The Thunder helped Denver by fouling intentionally while leading,
and the Nuggets took advantage by making all four free throws in the
final 12.9 seconds.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said he didn't regret the strategy
that ultimately kept the Nuggets close.
“It didn’t go our way tonight, but it’s worked out well for us in
the past,” Daigneault said. “We’ll continue to look at it and learn
from it, but I don’t think that’s why we lost the game.”
Oklahoma City led 113-102 with 4:31 remaining. The Thunder, normally
one of the best closing teams in the league, fell apart against the
veteran Nuggets.
“I never felt like anybody wavered,” Adelman said. “And that doesn’t
mean you’re going to win the game. But we all know in the NBA
playoffs these games are so long. You just try to give yourself a
chance. We did that.”
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