{"id":24993,"date":"2025-05-11T09:50:32","date_gmt":"2025-05-11T09:50:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/24993\/"},"modified":"2025-05-11T09:50:32","modified_gmt":"2025-05-11T09:50:32","slug":"nikola-jokic-aaron-gordon-fuel-nuggets-rally-past-thunder-in-game-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/24993\/","title":{"rendered":"Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon fuel Nuggets’ rally past Thunder in Game 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

Aaron Gordon<\/a> drained a 3-pointer with four seconds left to cap the Denver Nuggets’ stunning 121-119 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> in Game 1 of the\u00a0Western Conference semifinals<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Nuggets closed out on a 19-6 run after having trailed for most of Monday’s game at Paycom Center in the second round of the NBA Playoffs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Reigning NBA MVP<\/a> Nikola Jokic<\/a> battled foul trouble but was a bear to defend, fueling Denver’s comeback. He finished with 42 points, 22 rebounds and six assists.<\/p>\n

Gordon added 22 points, while Jamal Murray had 21 for Denver.<\/p>\n

CARLSON: OKC Thunder’s collapse vs Nuggets was a disaster in every way. Recovery? It’s no easy task<\/a><\/p>\n

Jokic’s 3-pointer with a minute left capped an 8-0 to cut the Thunder’s lead to 115-114.<\/p>\n

Chet Holmgren missed two late free throws with OKC up one point, giving the Nuggets a shot to steal Game 1.<\/p>\n

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> led the Thunder with 33 points on 12-for-26 shooting, while Alex Caruso added 20 points.<\/p>\n

Russell Westbrook, playing his first playoff game in OKC against the\u00a0Thunder, had 18 points on 7-for-13shooting.<\/p>\n

Game 2 is set for 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Paycom Center.<\/p>\n

REQUIRED READING: Thunder squanders Game 1 vs Nuggets and Chet Holmgren knows he must ‘be better’<\/a><\/p>\n

Thunder vs Nuggets live score updates in Game 1 of NBA Playoffs<\/p>\n

More: Thunder icons Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Russell Westbrook couldn’t be more different<\/a><\/p>\n

Nikola Jokic now has five fouls.<\/p>\n

More: WATCH: Denver Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon makes game-winning 3 to upset OKC Thunder in Game 1<\/a><\/p>\n

The scene after Jokic swung his arm and made contact above Dort\u2019s neck on that last play. Adelman wants Josh Tiven to watch the replay. Crew is reviewing for a flagrant. pic.twitter.com\/wyybEnAiNU<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Joel Lorenzi (@JoelXLorenzi) May 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

The Nuggets won the third 35-30 to cut the Thunder’s lead to five points entering the fourth. Russell Westbrook lifted the Nuggets’ bench in the third quarter, and Denver continues to dominate on the glass. SGA has been quiet since the first quarter. We’ll see what he has in store for the fourth.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014Joe Mussatto, Columnist<\/p>\n

5 TAKEAWAYS: OKC Thunder collapses in Game 1 loss to Denver Nuggets on Aaron Gordon shot<\/a><\/p>\n

Caruso\u2019s got *five* steals now, a playoff career high. His previous was the four steals he got in Game 3 of the Memphis series.<\/p>\n

Alex Caruso has helped OKC force 12 turnovers and score 19 points off that. Pick 6 after pick 6. He\u2019s moved pretty high up on the list of the Thunder\u2019s most valuable players.<\/p>\n

\u2014Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer<\/p>\n

This is why. The NBA brought the sound level meter for Game 1 and recorded 100-plus decibels, which isn’t great for one’s hearing.<\/p>\n

The Nuggets showed some signs of fatigue. A ball dribbled off Nikola Jokic\u2019s foot and slowly rolled out of bounds with no Denver player even making an effort to get to it. An errant pass was headed for a backcourt violation, but Michael Porter Jr. didn\u2019t seem to register it and made no attempt to avoid the turnover.<\/p>\n

And all the while, the Thunder kept rolling fresh bodies off the bench. Ten players have already logged minutes for Oklahoma City.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And the reserves helped get the lid off the basket from deep. After the Thunder went 0 for 8 in the first quarter, Alex Caruso hit two from behind the arc while Aaron Wiggins and Jaylin Williams each added one.<\/p>\n

The Thunder went 7 of 16 from behind the 3-point line in the quarter.<\/p>\n

The Nuggets would be in a much bigger hole if not for Nikola Jokic, who had 10 points in the second quarter and has a game-high 16 points.<\/p>\n

After 14 points in the first quarter, Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander managed only one in the second.<\/p>\n

\u2014Jenni Carlson, Columnist<\/p>\n

A packed Paycom Center crowd was itching to erupt on OKC’s opening possession when a lob pass sailed toward Isaiah Hartenstein.<\/p>\n

The big man was alone in the paint, cleared for takeoff. But when he palmed the ball with his left hand and attempted to throw down a hammer dunk, it clanked off the rim.<\/p>\n

Chalk that up to rust for the Thunder, which hadn’t played a game since April 26. But after missing five of its first six shot attempts, OKC eventually found its rhythm.<\/p>\n

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way. He erupted for 14 points and six rebounds in the first quarter on 6-for-8 shooting from the field (75%) to help keep the Thunder claim a one-point lead.<\/p>\n

\u2014Justin Martinez, Staff writer<\/p>\n

More: Minnesota Timberwolves vs Golden State Warriors predictions, odds: Who wins NBA playoff series?<\/a><\/p>\n

Russell Westbrook checking in for the first time this series in the building that once chanted MVP at him. The MVP chants are flowing \u2014 just for the new guy.<\/p>\n

\u2014Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer<\/p>\n

Russell Westbrook checking in for the first time this series in the building that once chanted MVP at him. The MVP chants are flowing \u2014 just for the new guy. pic.twitter.com\/CPtx1pDbn5<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Joel Lorenzi (@JoelXLorenzi) May 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

The\u00a0Nick Gallo<\/a>\u00a0love continues to grow.<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City<\/a>\u00a0star Jalen Williams took it to a different level with a new T-shirt he debuted before the Thunder faced the\u00a0Denver Nuggets<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals<\/a>\u00a0at Paycom Center.<\/p>\n

Think, \u201cE.T., phone home.\u201d<\/p>\n

The All-Star forward warmed up in a shirt featuring Gallo, OKC\u2019s beloved sideline reporter, in the basket of a bike with a towel around his shoulders as Williams pedaled with the moon in the background, mimicking the iconic image from the 1982 film \u201cE.T. the Extra Terrestrial.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014Jacob Unruh, Deputy sports editor<\/p>\n

More: Jalen Williams honors OKC Thunder sideline reporter Nick Gallo with ‘E.T.’ shirt<\/a><\/p>\n

We’ll see how the Celtics-Knicks game running long will push the start of the Thunder-Nuggets game to NBA TV.<\/p>\n

Among the Thunder and Nuggets\u2019 largest discrepancies is their number of bodies.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City could entertain the idea of platoon swapping. Denver might barf at the idea of playing more than seven players.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Still, the Nuggets have held up, outlasting the Clippers in seven games in their first-round series. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault doesn\u2019t see much luck in that.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s a quality seven with guys that have experience and guys that are really impactful players,\u201d Daigneault said. \u201cAnd they’ve introduced different guys at different times, and I would expect them to do that as we head into the series. So we’re ready for them past those seven guys that they kind of close that thing out with, but it’s a really quality rotation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey’ve got experience, they’ve got offensive firepower, they’ve got defensive toughness. They’re good on the glass, they’re good in transition.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer<\/p>\n

The Thunder last played nine days ago. The Nuggets last played within the previous 48 hours, winning a Game 7 over the Clippers.<\/p>\n

Advantage Thunder?<\/p>\n

Perhaps.<\/p>\n

Nuggets interim head coach David Adelman would sure love to know about the rest factor entering Monday night\u2019s Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the advantage is rest,\u201d Adelman said before the game. \u201cI mean, I always do. That\u2019s part of the NBA. But I do think that the emotion of winning the game we just won, and how well we played the first three and a half quarters was something to build on as you move into the next series.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I hope there\u2019s rust for them. That\u2019d be great but I expect them to come out full speed knowing that we\u2019ve been playing and they haven\u2019t been. That\u2019s a major advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adelman said he was pleased with how the team responded since Saturday night\u2019s win.<\/p>\n

\u201cI kind of felt like what I saw today from the guys looked like they\u2019re ready to go,\u201d Adelman said. \u201cThey looked like they moved on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014Jacob Unruh, Deputy sports editor<\/p>\n

Games: 76Points: 32.7 per gameRebounds: 5.0 per gameAssists: 6.4 per gameSteals: 1.7 per gameBlocks: 1.0 per gameField-goal shooting: 51.9%3-point shooting: 37.5%Free-throw shooting: 89.8%What time is Thunder vs Nuggets NBA game tonight?Date:\u00a0Monday, May 5Time:\u00a08:30 p.m. CTWhere:\u00a0Paycom Center in OKC<\/p>\n

The Thunder vs Nuggets game starts at 8:30 p.m. CT Monday from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.<\/p>\n

More: Can SGA, Thunder oust Nikola Jokic, Nuggets in NBA Playoffs? Here are four keys for OKC<\/a><\/p>\n

What channel is Thunder vs Nuggets<\/a> on tonight in NBA Playoffs?TV:\u00a0TNTHow to watch online:\u00a0Sling TV (free trial<\/a>), truTV and MaxRadio:\u00a0WWLS 98.1 FM<\/p>\n

The Thunder vs Nuggets game will be broadcast on TNT. It can be streamed on Sling TV, truTV and Max.<\/p>\n

More: NBA playoffs power rankings: Who is No. 1 among eight teams in conference semifinals?<\/a><\/p>\n

Thunder vs. Nuggets playoff schedule<\/p>\n

All times are Central Time (CT)<\/p>\n

More: NBA playoff predictions: Are Boston Celtics, OKC Thunder still favorites after Round 1?<\/a><\/p>\n

Thunder vs. Nuggets betting odds<\/p>\n

Odds via\u00a0BetMGM<\/a>\u00a0as of Sunday, May 4<\/p>\n

Odds:\u00a0Thunder by 9.5<\/p>\n

Over\/under:\u00a0225.5<\/p>\n

Moneyline:\u00a0OKC -450 | Denver +340<\/p>\n

CARLSON: Russell Westbrook Experience returns to OKC for Thunder-Nuggets in NBA Playoffs: Buckle up<\/a><\/p>\n

Justin Martinez:\u00a0OKC 118, Denver 107<\/p>\n

OKC hasn’t played a game since April 26. And while it might be rusty at first, its fresh legs should give it an advantage over Denver, which finished its seven-game series against Los Angeles on Saturday. I expect the Thunder to come out with a ton of energy on defense, where it has no shortage of options to throw at Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. And on offense, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams will be a handful for a Denver team that doesn’t have nearly as many lockdown defenders. Give me OKC at home.<\/p>\n

More: OKC Thunder vs Denver Nuggets: Who has the edge in NBA Playoffs?<\/a><\/p>\n

CARLSON: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wants to be one of the greats and one of the guys | Carlson<\/a><\/p>\n

Thunder vs. Nuggets highlights in Game 1 of Western Conference semifinals<\/p>\n

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