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We may have a Sport 7 within the Western Convention semifinals.
Led by Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic and an unlikely hero in Julian Strawther, the Nuggets went on a run late within the third quarter and pulled away for a 119-107 win over the Thunder to arrange Sunday's Sport 7 again in Oklahoma Metropolis.
GO FURTHER
NBA playoffs takeaways: Nuggets beat Thunder to drive Sport 7 after third-quarter flurry
… see you Sunday, the place we'll as soon as once more have the whole lot coated reside proper right here on The Athletic. Tipoff from Oklahoma Metropolis is ready for 3:30 ET.
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DENVER — Aaron Gordon was in good spirits within the locker room after showing to favor his left hamstring late within the fourth quarter. He grabbed at his left hamstring when he bent over to select up some scissors to chop his ankle tape. However he didn't have a wrap, or any ice on his left leg.
No, the postseason doesn't issue into the NBA MVP race. It's an everyday season award for which the votes had been submitted weeks in the past.
However, we're about to get a winner-take-all Sport 7 between the 2 frontrunners, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and ascending celebrity Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
And no matter occurs on Sunday will go a great distance in the direction of how every of their MVP-worthy 2024-25 seasons is remembered.
A pivotal a part of the Nuggets' win tonight was rebounding. Denver outboarded Oklahoma Metropolis 52-40, together with grabbing 11 offensive rebounds. Jokic had 14 of those rebounds and Braun added one other 11.
DENVER — For the primary time in over two weeks, Denver may have greater than someday of relaxation between video games. The Nuggets have been operating on fumes for a lot of this sequence as a result of they went seven video games in opposition to the LA Clippers, after which boarded a aircraft that Sunday and began the sequence in opposition to the Thunder that Monday.
“Guys appeared extra completely satisfied to have two days off than to be going to a Sport 7,” Denver interim head coach David Adelman stated.
That’s going to be vital. Aaron Gordon grabbed at his hamstring late within the fourth quarter of Sport 6. The Nuggets can ill-afford to be with out him on Sunday, or to also have a hobbled model of him. Adelman stated the priority stage is “excessive.”
The Nuggets additionally get some relaxation for Murray and Jokić. Denver knew it needed to give you one win on Thursday night time, and the Nuggets had been in a position to give you that win and provides themselves some much-needed relaxation.
DENVER — In Sport 6, with a golden alternative to advance to their first Convention Finals in a decade, the Thunder had been flat.
There have been a myriad of lead modifications on Thursday night however as a substitute of Oklahoma Metropolis to flex their 68-win muscle mass, it was Denver who performed with obligatory desperation to increase their season and preserve the sequence dream alive.
Jalen Williams, who struggled but once more to be a constant second possibility, completed with simply 6 factors on 3-for-15 taking pictures — regardless of main all gamers in assists. On the different finish, Jamal Murray was in fixed assault mode. Williams can’t afford one other sport like that if the Thunder have any reasonable hopes of attending to a convention ultimate.
By way of six video games, it’s clear that the Nuggets have extra offensive weapons. If Oklahoma Metropolis can’t match Denver’s firepower on Sunday, they’ll should be tactically sound in all phases of gameplay to advance.
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DENVER — The Nuggets have performed 9 video games within the final 17 days. They’ve gained eight of the final 11 quarters on this sequence.
Jamal Murray is a recognized playoff performer and tonight he had yet one more postseason second.
He entered the afternoon questionable with an sickness after waking up sick early this morning. Murray went on to drop 25 factors on 9-19 taking pictures whereas grabbing eight boards and dropping seven dimes.
His scoring helped get the Nuggets rolling and allowed Denver to endure runs from the Thunder.
After all, that is the second Sport 7 Denver has performed on this very postseason. The Nuggets beat the Clippers at house within the first spherical 120-101 for the proper to play the Thunder on this sequence.
That is additionally the second yr in a row that the Nuggets have performed in a Western Convention semifinals Sport 7. Denver misplaced 98-90 at house to Minnesota to finish their season final yr.
The Nuggets are 5-4 total in NBA playoff Sport 7s.
The Thunder are 6-5 in NBA playoff Sport 7s all-time courting again to their days because the Seattle SuperSonics.
Their final Sport 7 sport within the first spherical of the 2020 NBA playoffs, which had been performed within the Disney World "Bubble" in Orlando as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. The Thunder misplaced that sport to the Houston Rockets.
Russell Westbrook additionally performed in that sport, and in addition did so in opposition to the Thunder franchise that drafted him and that he gained an MVP with in 2017. Westbrook had 20 factors within the Rockets victory.
Nikola Jokic's early-series struggles from Video games 2-4 are nicely within the rearview mirror.
After a 44-point efficiency in a shedding effort Tuesday, Jokic had 29 factors, 14 rebounds and eight assists tonight, ending two dimes shy of a triple-double.
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Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Christian Braun every had over 20 factors, eight rebounds and 5 assists.
Jokic had 29 factors, 14 rebounds and eight assists.
Murray had 28 factors, eight rebounds and 7 assists.
Braun had 23 factors, 11 rebounds and 5 assists.
Per OptaStats, that's the primary time a trio of teammates has every put up these numbers since John Havlicek, Sam Jones and Invoice Russell in April 1966.
Possibly neglected tonight may very well be the contributions of Michael Porter Jr. He has struggled on this sequence, battling by way of a shoulder harm however he made a couple of key photographs tonight that the Nuggets actually wanted.
Porter completed with 10 factors on 4-9 taking pictures, together with 2-5 from deep.
Holmgren had his finest sport of the sequence tonight, scoring 19 factors on 8-14 taking pictures and grabbing 11 boards.
Whereas he solely blocked one shot tonight, his rim safety continues to be an element.
A tough sequence taking pictures the basketball continued for Jalen Williams tonight. He recorded seven rebounds and 10 assists however scored simply six factors on 3-16 taking pictures.
OKC will want a greater efficiency from JDub in Sport 7.
Sport 6 Strawther?
Julian Strawther scored 15 factors on 4-8 taking pictures and went 3-4 from deep.
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Christian Braun has a propensity for displaying up in huge spots and he did it once more for Denver tonight.
He completed with 23 factors on 3-of-6 taking pictures from deep, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and three steals.
Denver might grow to be one simply the nineteenth staff in NBA historical past to win a number of Sport 7s in the identical playoffs. After all, the Nuggets did that within the 2020 playoffs within the bubble. Solely the 1988 Lakers gained three Sport 7s in the identical postseason.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's foul hassle (4 within the first half) didn't assist issues, but it surely's onerous accountable this Thunder loss on Oklahoma Metropolis's celebrity.
Gilgeous-Alexander completed with 32 factors on 11-of-16 taking pictures, simply main all scorers. However solely two different Thunder gamers — Chet Holmgren (19 factors) and Lu Dort (10 factors) completed in double figures tonight.
