Shock in Oklahoma. Denver’s nuggets have taken the first game in an agonizing end and thanks to a triple by Aaron Gordon who turned the scoreboard with seven seconds on the clock (121-119). The Oklahoma City Thunder, the number one of the West Conference, had dominated most of the game with a solid collective style and for having mounted a wall to counteract Nikola Jokić and his teammates.
The wall was demolished in the last period by the Serbian, who registered another huge performance with 42 points, 22 rebounds and 6 assists. It is only the fifth player in history, the last one from Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2022, which has such numbers in a game of playoffs. There is still a long way to walk, but Jokić shows hunger to repeat the title he achieved in 2023 with Denver. The second semifinal game will be played on Wednesday.
The Nuggets had not been on the scoreboard since the first quarter. Jokić, who scored 18 points in the last period, put Denver at a point of distance with his second triple at night. It was the last minute of the game and the teams had no faults to give, so each possession sent players to the free throw line. Two visiting players took the opportunity from the punishment line to stay close to the scoreboard. Chet Holmgren, from Oklahoma, however, both shots with the cartons 118-119. Christian Braun caught the defensive rebound and passed the ball to Russell Westbrook, who put it in the hands of Gordon for the long distance shot that has given the Thunder his first defeat of the postseason.
The semifinal serves as a showcase for two of the three finalists to the MVP of the season. Jokić, who average double digits at points, rebounds and assists, aspires to receive it for the fourth time in five years. The other great favorite is Gilgeous-Alexander, who last year was in the second position of the voting behind the Serbian. The Canadian, however, was the leader of the League with an average of 32.7 points per game. The NBA is expected to announce the winner in the next few days, while the series is under development.
Gilgeous-Alxander closed the night with 33 points, 13 of these in the fourth period. He was the director of an assembly in which both holders and substitutes participated. Several moments of the night recalled why the Thunder ended the season at the top of the West Conference with 68 wins and only 14 losses. Alex Caruso was the key man from the bank with 20 points (five of nine triples) and five robberies.
Oklahoma’s escort was also one of the pillars of defense. Next to him were Holmgren, Lu Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein, who turned 27 today. The Oklahoma towers plugged Jokić and forced 18 ball losses (seven of the Serbian), with which the visitors gave 23 points. The defensive by area rotated to have all the time under a double brand to Jokić and Jamal Murray, who only spotted 6 of 16 shots. Even so, the Canadian ended 21 points thanks to his visits to the line of free. The defensive also annulled Michael Porter Jr., one of Denver’s headlines, who today put two points.
David Adelman, the Nugget coach, sat Porter Jr. in the third quarter. He then bet on Russell Westbrook, an old acquaintance in Oklahoma, the team that signed him and for those who played eleven seasons, including that of 2017, when MVP was named.
Denver’s veteran has extended the streak with which the series of elimination against the clippers ended tonight. He contributed 18 points from the bank with his style of play, which he defines as a “force of nature.” “It can be a lost ball, a failed shot, but perhaps a robbery, maybe a mate, maybe a triple failed or one spotted. It will be all that,” Westbrook joked. Tonight it seemed to cross out the list. But the final assistance of the suffered victory was yours.
