Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein.
Those are the three Thunder players who have played in a Game 7.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort played a Game 7 against the Rockets in the 2020 bubble playoffs. Hartenstein played in the Knicks’ Game 7 loss to the Pacers in last season’s East semifinals.
Alex Caruso has played in a team-high 41 playoff games, but never a Game 7.
That changes at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, when the Thunder will host the Nuggets in Game 7 with a conference finals bid on the line.
It will be the fifth Game 7 in Thunder history.
Here’s how the previous four went:
2019-20: Rockets 104, Thunder 102 | West first round
Gilgeous-Alexander was a second-year pro and first-year Thunder. Lu Dort was an undrafted rookie who had played just 36 games in the regular season.
This was the game when Dort introduced himself to the NBA world.
He scored 30 points, which is still his playoff career high. In fact, Dort hasn’t had a 20-point playoff game since going off for 30 in the bubble.
Dort shot 6-of-12 from three that game while guarding fellow Sun Devil James Harden.
Harden blocked Dort’s go-ahead 3-point attempt with four seconds left.
2015-16: Warriors 96, Thunder 88 | West finals
Game 6 Klay is so seared into our minds that sometimes we forget there was a Game 7.
Steph Curry closed Game 7 with 36 points. The Warriors shot 46% from 3-point range.
Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 27 points. A little more than a month later, he was off to The Bay.
2013-14: Thunder 120, Grizzlies 109 | West first round
Durant delivered an MVP performance in his MVP season. He scored 33 points in Game 7 on 12-of-18 shooting. He made all five of his 3-pointers.
Russell Westbrook delivered a patented triple-double: 27 points, 16 assists, 10 rebounds.
2010-11: Thunder 105, Grizzlies 90 | West semifinals
What a series this was.
The Grizzlies won in overtime of Game 3. The Thunder won in triple-overtime of Game 4.
Game 7 wasn’t close, though.
OKC clamped down on Memphis, holding the Grizzlies to sub-40% shooting. Durant led the Thunder with 39 points. And yes, Westbrook had a triple-double: 14 points, 14 assists, 10 rebounds.
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support Joe’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
Game 7: Thunder vs. Nuggets
TIPOFF: 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Paycom Center (ABC)