Aaron Gordon hit a 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds remaining as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-119 Monday to steal Game 1 of their West semifinal series.
Denver finished the contest on a 19-6 run after being behind for most of the night, but it was Nikola Jokić who would not let the Nuggets stop. Jokić had 42 points on 15-of-29 shooting, 22 rebounds and six assists, powering Denver’s rally down the stretch.
The Thunder led 108-95 with 6:39 remaining in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough.
With the Thunder nursing a 119-118 lead with 11 seconds remaining after a pair Gordon free throws, Chet Holmgren was fouled and stepped to the line to increase Oklahoma City’s lead. But he missed both free throws to leave the door open for Denver.
The Nuggets’ Christian Braun grabbed the rebound and pushed the ball to Russell Westbrook, who whipped a pass to Gordon on the left wing. Gordon calmly hit his second game-winner of the playoffs after his buzzer-beating dunk beat the L.A. Clippers in Game 4 of the first round.
With the win, the visiting team has now won the first three games of the second round of the playoffs, with Indiana topping Cleveland on Sunday and New York shocking Boston earlier Monday.
Game 2 of the Nuggets-Thunder series is 9:30 p.m. ET Wednesday in Oklahoma City.
Aaron Gordon hit a 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds remaining as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-119 Monday to steal Game 1 of their West semifinal series.
Denver finished the contest on a 19-6 run after being behind for most of the night, but it was Nikola Jokić who would not let the Nuggets stop. Jokić had 42 points on 15-of-29 shooting, 22 rebounds and six assists, powering Denver’s rally down the stretch.
Advertisement
The Thunder led 108-95 with 6:39 remaining in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough.
With the Thunder nursing a 119-118 lead with 11 seconds remaining after a pair Gordon free throws, Chet Holmgren was fouled and stepped to the line to increase Oklahoma City’s lead. But he missed both free throws to leave the door open for Denver.
The Nuggets’ Christian Braun grabbed the rebound and pushed the ball to Russell Westbrook, who whipped a pass to Gordon on the left wing. Gordon calmly hit his second game-winner of the playoffs after his buzzer-beating dunk beat the L.A. Clippers in Game 4 of the first round.
Advertisement
With the win, the visiting team has now won the first three games of the second round of the playoffs, with Indiana topping Cleveland on Sunday and New York shocking Boston earlier Monday.
Game 2 of the Nuggets-Thunder series is 9:30 p.m. ET Wednesday in Oklahoma City.
