The Denver Nuggets shocked the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in a thrilling Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Nuggets secured their first win for the semifinals with a 121-119 win at Paycom Center on Monday night. The game ended with the Nuggets’ favor as Aaron Gordon hit a clutch three-pointer with just 2.8 seconds remaining. The victory gives them a 1-0 lead in the series and steals home-court advantage from the Thunder.

With 11 seconds left, the Nuggets were trailing 119-116 after a powerful dunk by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. On the next play, Aaron Gordon was fouled immediately after catching the inbounds pass. He calmly sank both free throws, cutting the deficit to one. Denver responded by fouling Chet Holmgren, who stepped to the line but missed both crucial free throws. Christian Braun grabbed the rebound on the second miss and quickly passed the ball to Russell Westbrook. Westbrook delivered a perfect cross-court pass to Gordon on the wing. Without hesitation, Gordon rose up and knocked down the game-winning three. With no timeouts left, Oklahoma City could only manage a desperate three-quarter-court heave from Jalen Williams that missed as time expired.

The Nuggets were carried all night by Nikola Jokić, who delivered one of the most dominant playoff performances in recent memory. The reigning Finals MVP poured in 42 points on 15-of-29 shooting. He grabbed 22 rebounds, added six assists, two blocks, and a steal. Additionally, he became just the fifth player in NBA playoff history to record at least 40 points, 20 rebounds, and five assists in a game. The player joined Wilt Chamberlain, George McGinnis, Shaquille O’Neal, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Jokić scored 18 of his 42 points in the fourth quarter alone, relentlessly attacking the paint despite Oklahoma City’s tall frontcourt anchored by Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. He even nailed a clutch pull-up three-pointer over Hartenstein to cut the Thunder’s lead to one with just over a minute remaining. Remarkably, Jokić did all this while playing the final 18 minutes of the game in foul trouble.

Aaron Gordon finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds, including seven offensive boards. Beyond his late-game heroics, he made two clutch free throws just seconds before hitting the game-winner. After the game, Gordon reflected on the moment, saying, “I worked on my jumper a lot throughout the years… it’s nice to have it all culminate in a game-winner.” He added, “We didn’t want to miss the moment… glad we showed our grit, but we are not satisfied.” This was Gordon’s second game-winner of the 2025 playoffs, the first coming on a dunk against the Clippers in Game 4 of the opening round.

For Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was spectacular. He finished Game 1 with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. He scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, including a tough stepback three over Gordon and the dunk that gave OKC a three-point lead late. It was the Thunder’s first loss of the 2025 postseason after sweeping Memphis in the first round.

Having played just four games in the last 21 days, they entered the series well-rested but struggled to execute down the stretch. Holmgren’s missed free throws and a questionable decision not to foul while up three in the final seconds cost them dearly. Still, Alex Caruso was a bright spot, scoring 20 points in 26 minutes off the bench while adding five three-pointers, five steals, two blocks, and six assists.

Russell Westbrook, returning to face his former team in Oklahoma City, had a strong game off the bench with 18 points and the crucial assist on Gordon’s game-winner. Westbrook continues to play purposefully this postseason, delivering key moments against teams that once traded him. Jamal Murray started hot alongside Jokić, but the Thunder’s defense cooled him down as the game progressed. Michael Porter Jr. had a rare off-night, scoring just two points. Yet, the Nuggets found a way to win, showing the grit and experience of a championship team.

This was Denver’s eighth game in 16 days, and their short rotation meant heavy minutes for the starters. Three players logged over 40 minutes, but the team held firm despite potential fatigue. Interim coach David Adelman praised their focus: “This is our opportunity tonight, live in the present… we never let go of the rope.”

With the win, the Nuggets lead the series 1-0 and have taken home-court advantage. Game 2 is again set for Wednesday, May 7, in Oklahoma City. The Thunder will face intense pressure to avoid falling behind 0-2 before the series shifts to Denver. 

Nuggets vs Thunder Stats

Final Score: Denver Nuggets 121 – Oklahoma City Thunder 119
Quarter Scores: 32–26, 55–57, 87–95, 121–119

Denver Nuggets:
Jokić 42, Gordon 22, Westbrook 18, Murray 16, Caldwell-Pope 9, Braun 6, Watson 4, Porter Jr. 2, Nnaji 2

Oklahoma City Thunder:
Gilgeous-Alexander 33, Caruso 20, Williams 16, Holmgren 15, Hartenstein 12, Wallace 9, Wiggins 8, Dort 6, Joe 0, O’Connell 0