{"id":40553,"date":"2025-05-18T04:49:12","date_gmt":"2025-05-18T04:49:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/40553\/"},"modified":"2025-05-18T04:49:12","modified_gmt":"2025-05-18T04:49:12","slug":"nba-playoffs-seven-things-to-watch-for-in-game-7-including-aaron-gordons-injury-status-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/40553\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Playoffs: Seven things to watch for in Game 7, including Aaron Gordon’s injury status"},"content":{"rendered":"

When last the Thunder<\/a> played a home playoff game with as high a stakes as Sunday\u2019s Game 7 against the Nuggets<\/a>, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> was still a prepster at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee.<\/p>\n

Jalen Williams<\/a>? Just finishing up his freshman year of high school in Gilbert, Arizona.<\/p>\n

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Alex Caruso<\/a>? Preparing for an NBA Draft that would lead to a G League stint in OKC.<\/p>\n

In other words, it\u2019s been a minute.<\/p>\n

But even though Oklahoma City hasn’t hosted as big a game as this since the Thunder<\/a>-Warriors Game 6 of the 2016 Western Conference finals, we still know that the deciding game in these Western Conference semifinals promises to be grand theater. Game 7s<\/a>, after all, are one of the most unique things in all of sports, so there\u2019ll be all sorts of things to keep an eye on, both on the court and off.<\/p>\n

So, as you prepare for Game 7 between the Thunder and Nuggets<\/a>, here are seven things to watch.<\/p>\n

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CARLSON: Why Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ is the OKC Thunder’s victory anthem at Paycom Center<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Denver<\/p>\n

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) tries to pass as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) defends during Game 5 of the NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, May 13, 2025.<\/p>\n

Nikola Jokic<\/p>\n

As if you could keep your eyes off the Nuggets\u2019 superstar.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s the best basketball player on the planet right now, and that\u2019s no disrespect to SGA or any other great player. Jokic is just at a different level because of how he combines big-man size with small-guy skills.<\/p>\n

And in the postseason, he\u2019s taken his play even higher \u2014 Jokic leads all players in these playoffs in points, rebounds, assists and steals.<\/p>\n

The Thunder has rotated different defenders on Jokic. Isaiah Hartenstein and his bulk. Chet Holmgren and his length. Jaylin Williams and his grit. All have had good moments against Jokic and not-so-good ones, and hey, that\u2019s to be expected. He\u2019s going to score. And assist. And rebound.<\/p>\n

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But the thing the Thunder needs to avoid is sending Jokic to the free-throw line. In two of the Nuggets\u2019 three wins in this series, Jokic has shot 12 or more free throws. In two of their three losses, he\u2019s shot five.<\/p>\n

The Thunder has way better odds of winning if Jokic doesn\u2019t shoot a bunch of free throws.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jenni Carlson<\/p>\n

MUSSATTO: When OKC Thunder plays Denver Nuggets in Game 7, it will be a rare NBA playoff occurrence<\/a><\/p>\n

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/p>\n

The Thunder can\u2019t win Game 7 without the man that got it here. Without SGA delivering in some fashion \u2014 across a game, in the clutch.<\/p>\n

The MVP favorite has improved as the series has aged. From attempting to understand Denver\u2019s bevy of coverages, to solving them in clutch time, to flowing into his baskets in Game 6.<\/p>\n

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He\u2019s one of just three players on this Thunder squad to experience a Game 7. With the way Denver has set out to defend him, his competence is a baseline. In a close out game, a star must be a star.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Joel Lorenzi<\/p>\n

MUSSATTO: NBA Playoffs: What’s at stake for Thunder vs Nuggets in Game 7? ‘It\u2019s do or die’<\/a><\/p>\n

OKC\u2019s presence of mind<\/p>\n

Game 7 won\u2019t be played much differently than any other game, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault assured.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce the ball goes up, it\u2019s the same game,\u201d he said Saturday afternoon. \u201cIf you want to test that, watch any Game 7. It\u2019s not like there\u2019s a different game being played.\u201d<\/p>\n

Game 7 will wind down to execution like most other games. Hustle, intangibles, shotmaking. The most significant game to be played in years in Oklahoma City at least has those things in common with previous games.<\/p>\n

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But whether the Thunder feels that way to its core, and whether that presence of mind truly plays out on Sunday, is worth watching for.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Joel Lorenzi<\/p>\n

More: Aaron Gordon injury update: Will Denver Nuggets forward play in Game 7 vs OKC Thunder?<\/a><\/p>\n

Jalen Williams\u2019 scoring production<\/p>\n

Williams averaged 21.6 points during the regular season on 51.3% shooting from the field and 38.2% shooting from deep.<\/p>\n

The first-time All-Star has struggled in this series, though. He\u2019s averaging 16.5 points on 33.7% shooting from the field and 21.2% shooting from deep.<\/p>\n

Williams is dealing with a nagging wrist injury, which has surely played a role in his inconsistent scoring. Despite stuffing the stat sheet in Game 6 with 10 assists and seven rebounds, he finished with just six points.<\/p>\n

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If OKC wants to keep its season alive, it\u2019ll need guys to take pressure off of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. A strong performance by Williams would go a long way.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Justin Martinez<\/p>\n

REPORT CARD: Thunder vs Nuggets grades: Julian Strawther, foul trouble spell trouble for OKC in Game 6<\/a><\/p>\n

Thunder’s home-court advantage<\/p>\n

OKC is 4-1 at home these playoffs.<\/p>\n

One advantage is the Paycom Center crowd, which has fueled numerous Thunder runs. The biggest example was OKC\u2019s comeback win in Game 5.<\/p>\n

The rims have also given the Thunder a boost.<\/p>\n

OKC is shooting 39.8% from deep at home these playoffs, which ranks first among the eight second-round teams. But it\u2019s only shooting 25.9% from deep on the road, which ranks last.<\/p>\n

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\u2014 Justin Martinez<\/p>\n

REQUIRED READING: How Thunder gave Nuggets hope in Game 6, ‘most dangerous thing’ in NBA Playoffs<\/a><\/p>\n

Aaron Gordon\u2019s status\"Oklahoma<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) puts p a shot beside Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32) during Game 5 of the NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, May 13, 2025.<\/p>\n

The Nuggets forward sustained a left hamstring strain<\/a> near the end of Game 6, and as ESPN\u2019s Shams Charania first reported, Gordon\u2019s status for Game 7 is \u201cin doubt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whether Gordon plays or not could have massive implications. He\u2019s been one of the stars of these playoffs. Gordon hit the game-winning 3-pointer in the Nuggets\u2019 Game 1 win against the Thunder, and he made a late 3-pointer in Game 3 to help force overtime in another of the Nuggets\u2019 wins.<\/p>\n

Gordon has averaged 14.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists in the series.<\/p>\n

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If Gordon can\u2019t go, expect to see a lot more of Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther in Game 7.<\/p>\n

\u2014\u00a0Joe Mussatto\u00a0<\/p>\n

MUSSATTO: Thunder needs more from Jalen Williams to oust Nuggets from NBA Playoffs in Game 7<\/a><\/p>\n

Could Isaiah Joe be an X-factor?<\/p>\n

Isaiah Joe is due.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s 4-of-14 from 3-point range this series, and all four of those makes came in the Thunder\u2019s Game 2 blowout win.<\/p>\n

Joe has only played nine minutes per game in this series. He can\u2019t wait around to find his rhythm. He needs to come out firing. Once that first one drops, Joe is bound to hit a couple more.<\/p>\n

Maybe he can be for the Thunder in Game 7 what Julian Strawther was for the Nuggets in Game 6.<\/p>\n

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\u2014\u00a0Joe Mussatto<\/p>\n

REQUIRED READING: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may be the next MVP, but can he be the face of the NBA his way?<\/a><\/p>\n

Game 7: Thunder vs. Nuggets<\/p>\n

TIPOFF:\u00a02:30 p.m. Sunday at Paycom Center (ABC)<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Seven things to watch for Thunder vs Nuggets in NBA Playoffs Game 7<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When last the Thunder played a home playoff game with as high a stakes as Sunday\u2019s Game 7…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":40554,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[877,328,7,366,949,1624,364,6563,763,6,11,253,302,378,475,1146,209,1415],"class_list":{"0":"post-40553","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nba-playoffs","8":"tag-aaron-gordon","9":"tag-alex-caruso","10":"tag-basketball","11":"tag-chet-holmgren","12":"tag-isaiah-hartenstein","13":"tag-isaiah-joe","14":"tag-jalen-williams","15":"tag-jaylin-williams","16":"tag-julian-strawther","17":"tag-nba","18":"tag-nba-playoffs","19":"tag-nikola-jokic","20":"tag-nuggets","21":"tag-okc","22":"tag-oklahoma-city","23":"tag-peyton-watson","24":"tag-shai-gilgeous-alexander","25":"tag-the-nuggets"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/114527034752920352","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40553","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40553"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40553\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40554"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40553"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40553"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40553"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}