Nikola Jokic had 42 factors and 22 rebounds, and Aaron Gordon hit a 3-pointer within the closing seconds to present the Denver Nuggets a shocking 121-119 comeback win over the top-seeded Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Monday night time in Recreation 1 of their Western Convention semifinal sequence.
Oklahoma Metropolis, out of timeouts, missed a desperation heave as time expired.
Denver’s Russell Westbrook, who began his profession with the Thunder, assisted on Gordon’s game-winner. It was his first playoff recreation in Oklahoma Metropolis as an opposing participant.
Gordon completed with 22 factors and 14 rebounds. Jamal Murray added 21 factors for the fourth-seeded Nuggets, who stole the opener after closing out a seven-game sequence in opposition to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.
Denver’s alternative got here after Oklahoma Metropolis’s Chet Holmgren missed two free throws with the Thunder main by a degree.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 33 factors, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Thunder, who hadn’t performed in additional than per week after sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies within the first spherical. Alex Caruso added 20 factors, six assists and 5 steals.
Jokic picked up three fouls throughout a two-minute stretch within the third quarter after committing only one foul within the first half. He stayed within the recreation with the Thunder main 73-64.
The Nuggets closed the hole to 90-85 by the top of the third quarter.
With the Thunder main 104-95 and just below seven minutes remaining, Jokic elbowed Lu Dort within the head on a drive, and the play was reviewed. The play was dominated a flagrant 1 on Jokic — his fifth foul — and Dort made two free throws.
Denver spent the remainder of the sport closing the hole.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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