As Nikola Jokic went deep into the paint in the post, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s double-team bet failed. Julian Strawther was left open at the corner and knocked down a 3-pointer that served as a dagger.

In a do-or-die scenario, the Denver Nuggets survived against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 119-107 Game 6 win. The back-and-forth affair will reach a dramatic Game 7 on Sunday. Only fitting considering the West heavyweights have exchanged blows.

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The Nuggets fought off elimination with some home cooking. They went 27-of-32 on free throws while the Thunder went just 10-of-16. The discrepancy gifted Denver 17 more points in a 12-point result. But the other big variable that favored them was their role players.

Christian Braun had his best game of the playoff series with 23 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Julian Strawther was an unlikely hero with 15 points off the bench. He scored eight straight points to put the game away in the second half.

The old saying goes that role players play better at home. The Thunder hope they get similar luck at Game 7. Lu Dort had his best moment of the series in Game 5 when he redeemed himself with 12 loud points for OKC to secure the win.

Maybe Dort can have another moment with Game 7. After all, his “Big Game Lu” moniker started in Game 7 against the Houston Rockets way back in the 2020 NBA Bubble. If not him, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe could be other candidates. Neither has had a highlight moment yet, but they are due outside makes.

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Or maybe Alex Caruso could have a Game 1-esque performance where he had 20 points and five steals that went in vain because of Aaron Gordon’s game-winner. Plenty of candidates fill the Thunder’s rich depth that could copy what Braun and Strawther did.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will dominate. He’s played like an MVP finalist in every game this playoff series besides Game 3. If the rest of OKC’s supporting cast can step up, it’ll help improve its odds to beat the Nuggets and face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Nuggets enjoyed role players home cooking. Thunder’s turn for Game 7