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We could have a Recreation 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 Recreation 7 again in Oklahoma Metropolis.
GO FURTHER
NBA playoffs takeaways: Nuggets beat Thunder to power Recreation 7 after third-quarter flurry
… see you Sunday, the place we'll as soon as once more have every part lined dwell proper right here on The Athletic. Tipoff from Oklahoma Metropolis is about 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 a daily season award for which the votes have been submitted weeks in the past.
However, we're about to get a winner-take-all Recreation 7 between the 2 frontrunners, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and ascending famous person Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
And no matter occurs on Sunday will go a good 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 could have greater than at some point of relaxation between video games. The Nuggets have been operating on fumes for a lot of this collection as a result of they went seven video games towards the LA Clippers, after which boarded a airplane that Sunday and began the collection towards the Thunder that Monday.
“Guys seemed extra glad to have two days off than to be going to a Recreation 7,” Denver interim head coach David Adelman stated.
That’s going to be essential. Aaron Gordon grabbed at his hamstring late within the fourth quarter of Recreation 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 have been in a position to give you that win and provides themselves some much-needed relaxation.
DENVER — In Recreation 6, with a golden alternative to advance to their first Convention Finals in a decade, the Thunder have been flat.
There have been a myriad of lead adjustments on Thursday night however as an alternative of Oklahoma Metropolis to flex their 68-win muscle groups, it was Denver who performed with needed desperation to increase their season and hold the collection dream alive.
Jalen Williams, who struggled but once more to be a constant second choice, completed with simply 6 factors on 3-for-15 capturing — regardless of main all gamers in assists. On the different finish, Jamal Murray was in fixed assault mode. Williams can’t afford one other recreation like that if the Thunder have any practical 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 have to 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 collection.
Jamal Murray is a identified 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 capturing 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 Recreation 7 Denver has performed on this very postseason. The Nuggets beat the Clippers at house within the first spherical 120-101 for the appropriate to play the Thunder on this collection.
That is additionally the second yr in a row that the Nuggets have performed in a Western Convention semifinals Recreation 7. Denver misplaced 98-90 at house to Minnesota to finish their season final yr.
The Nuggets are 5-4 general in NBA playoff Recreation 7s.
The Thunder are 6-5 in NBA playoff Recreation 7s all-time relationship again to their days because the Seattle SuperSonics.
Their final Recreation 7 recreation within the first spherical of the 2020 NBA playoffs, which have been performed within the Disney World "Bubble" in Orlando because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Thunder misplaced that recreation to the Houston Rockets.
Russell Westbrook additionally performed in that recreation, and in addition did so towards 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 ignored tonight might be the contributions of Michael Porter Jr. He has struggled on this collection, battling via a shoulder harm however he made just a few key photographs tonight that the Nuggets actually wanted.
Porter completed with 10 factors on 4-9 capturing, together with 2-5 from deep.
Holmgren had his finest recreation of the collection tonight, scoring 19 factors on 8-14 capturing and grabbing 11 boards.
Whereas he solely blocked one shot tonight, his rim safety continues to be an element.
A tough collection capturing the basketball continued for Jalen Williams tonight. He recorded seven rebounds and 10 assists however scored simply six factors on 3-16 capturing.
OKC will want a greater efficiency from JDub in Recreation 7.
Recreation 6 Strawther?
Julian Strawther scored 15 factors on 4-8 capturing 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 capturing from deep, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and three steals.
Denver might turn out to be one simply the nineteenth workforce in NBA historical past to win a number of Recreation 7s in the identical playoffs. After all, the Nuggets did that within the 2020 playoffs within the bubble. Solely the 1988 Lakers gained three Recreation 7s in the identical postseason.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's foul hassle (4 within the first half) didn't assist issues, however it's onerous responsible this Thunder loss on Oklahoma Metropolis's famous person.
Gilgeous-Alexander completed with 32 factors on 11-of-16 capturing, simply main all scorers. However solely two different Thunder gamers — Chet Holmgren (19 factors) and Lu Dort (10 factors) completed in double figures tonight.
