Nikola Jokić scored 42 factors and grabbed 22 rebounds, whereas Aaron Gordon hit a late three-pointer to provide the Denver Nuggets a dramatic 121-119 win over the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Monday evening.
The Thunder, who had no timeouts left, missed a last-second shot as Recreation 1 of their Western Convention semi-final led to defeat.
Denver’s Russell Westbrook, taking part in his first playoff sport in Oklahoma Metropolis as an opponent, handed to Gordon for the successful shot. Westbrook started his NBA profession with the Thunder.
Gordon ended the evening 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 in opposition to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.
Denver obtained their likelihood after Thunder’s Chet Holmgren missed two free throws whereas his staff 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 in opposition to 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, choosing 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 with his elbow throughout a drive. After a overview, it was referred to as a flagrant foul. It was Jokić’s fifth foul, and Dort made each free throws.
Nonetheless, Denver saved combating and managed to show the sport round.
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