Denver Nuggets bounce again from an enormous Recreation 2 loss to Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder to steal a 2-1 sequence lead of their playoff sequence.
Jamal Murray scored 27 factors, and the host Denver Nuggets dominated in extra time to beat the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder 113-104 in Recreation 3 of their Western Convention second-round playoff sequence.
Nikola Jokic missed all 10 of his 3-point makes an attempt in Friday’s matchup and completed 8-for-25 from the sector however ended the evening with 20 factors and 16 rebounds for the Nuggets, who lead the best-of-seven sequence 2-1.
Recreation 4 is on Sunday afternoon in Denver.
Aaron Gordon scored 22 factors, together with a tying bucket within the ultimate minute of regulation, and Michael Porter Jr went 5-for-6 from deep and completed with 21 factors for the Nuggets, who completed 39-for-85 from the sector (45.9 p.c).
“We’ve been on this state of affairs earlier than, we stayed poised,” Porter stated about Denver’s potential to win shut video games. “[Aaron Gordon] hit that large 3 to ship it to extra time, like he’s executed all playoffs. Enormous win.”
Jalen Williams scored 32 factors for Oklahoma Metropolis, who have been 1-for-7 from the sector in extra time with two turnovers. Chet Holmgren had 18 factors and 16 rebounds, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander completed with 18 factors and 13 rebounds, and Isaiah Hartenstein had 10 factors and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, who have been 40-for-104 (38.5 p.c) from the sector.
“One factor that it takes to be an important staff is you get taken to the restrict within the playoffs, and also you’ve bought to rise to the challenges that you simply’re confronted with,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault stated. “This staff’s made a behavior of doing that repeatedly. I’ve full confidence we’ll proceed to try this, however now we have to embrace what that is.”
Jokic opened extra time with a layup, and Porter drained a 3-pointer to make it 107-102. Williams missed a floater and had a turnover, which led to Murray’s layup with 3:02 left.
Holmgren’s dunk with 1:56 left was Oklahoma Metropolis’s solely basket in extra time, and the Nuggets closed it out.
“I feel, late within the video games, you may depend on what you’ve seen and felt and executed,” Nuggets head coach David Adelman stated in regards to the staff’s playoff expertise. “You possibly can really feel a sport that perhaps you performed a few years in the past.”
Gilgeous-Alexander went 7-for-22 from the sector however put the Thunder forward 93-92 together with his first 3-pointer of the evening with 7:33 left within the fourth.
Oklahoma Metropolis led 95-93 after Murray cut up a pair of free throws with 5:58 left, and each groups went chilly from the sector. Gilgeous-Alexander missed three straight photographs, and Denver tied it on Gordon’s two free throws with 4:26 remaining.
Williams hit a layup, and Murray tied it at 97 with two free throws and put Denver forward with a 17-footer with 2:17 left.
Luguentz Dort gave Oklahoma Metropolis again in entrance with a 3-pointer – his solely factors of the evening – Murray was known as for a journey with 1:31 remaining, and Williams made a pair of free throws to make it 102-99.
Gordon’s 3-pointer tied it with 27.5 seconds left, Gilgeous-Alexander missed a floater, and Jokic’s 20-footer on the buzzer was off, sending it to extra time.
In an earlier playoff matchup on Friday, Donovan Mitchell scored 43 factors to raise the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 126-104 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Recreation 3 of their Japanese Convention semifinal sequence in Indianapolis.
The highest-seeded Cavaliers outscored Indiana by a 34-13 margin within the second quarter en path to reducing their deficit to 2-1 within the best-of-seven sequence. Recreation 4 is on Sunday in Indianapolis.
Mitchell, who added 9 rebounds, made 14 of 29 photographs from the ground and 10 of 14 from the free throw line. The six-time All-Star drained 5 3-pointers on 13 makes an attempt after coming into the competition simply 2-for-18 from past the arc.
Cleveland’s Max Strus collected 20 factors and 7 rebounds, Jarrett Allen had 19 and 12, and reigning Defensive Participant of the 12 months Evan Mobley added 18 and 13, respectively, in his return from a one-game absence attributable to a sprained left ankle.
Darius Garland completed with simply 10 factors whereas being affected by foul bother. He was enjoying his first sport since April 23, having recovered from a toe harm.
“[We were] down 2-0,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson stated. “It’s type of now or by no means. You’re banged up and also you’re hurting … They needed to take a look at it in the present day. They confirmed lots of fortitude. We now have sooner or later of restoration right here, so it’s a fast turnaround, and so they can flip it round and be able to go.”
Cleveland held a decisive 56-37 edge in rebounds, together with an 18-4 benefit on the offensive finish.
Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin scored 23 factors off the bench, and Pascal Siakam added 18.
Star Tyrese Haliburton was restricted to simply 4 factors on 2-of-8 capturing for the fourth-seeded Pacers.
Cleveland will attempt to degree the sequence when the Pacers host Recreation 4 on Sunday.
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