The Western Conference Semifinals tipped off with the Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the battle-tested Denver Nuggets on May 5 at Paycom Center. The Thunder entered with momentum after sweeping their first-round series, while the Nuggets arrived after surviving a grueling seven-game clash with the Clippers.
With both squads eager to break past last year’s second-round barrier, all eyes were on this high-stakes opener featuring a marquee showdown between Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. How did each side fare in the high-stakes battle? Let’s dig into the stats and box score.
Denver Nuggets vs. OKC Thunder Box Score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuggets | 26 | 24 | 35 | 36 | 121 |
| Thunder | 27 | 33 | 31 | 29 | 119 |
Nuggets’ Player Stats
| Player | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokić | 42 | 42 | 22 | 6 |
| Aaron Gordon | 39 | 22 | 14 | 1 |
| Jamal Murray | 44 | 21 | 6 | 6 |
| Christian Braun | 40 | 11 | 13 | 3 |
| Michael Porter Jr. | 24 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| Russell Westbrook | 30 | 18 | 2 | 2 |
| Peyton Watson | 14 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Julian Strawther | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Thunder’s Player Stats
| Player | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 39 | 33 | 10 | 8 |
| Jalen Williams | 37 | 16 | 7 | 4 |
| Luguentz Dort | 29 | 14 | 2 | 1 |
| Chet Holmgren | 27 | 12 | 6 | 2 |
| Isaiah Hartenstein | 28 | 12 | 9 | 1 |
| Alex Caruso | 26 | 20 | 1 | 6 |
| Aaron Wiggins | 13 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Jaylin Williams | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Cason Wallace | 21 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Isaiah Joe | 12 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Nuggets vs. Thunder: Game 1 Recap
The first quarter was a tight contest, with the Thunder narrowly edging out the Nuggets 27-26. Denver’s shooting struggled, especially from beyond the arc, which kept them from gaining momentum. On the other hand, OKC’s shooting wasn’t much better, hitting just 2 of 11 3-pointers, but they managed to get more rebounds (16 total) compared to the Nuggets’ 14, including a key 10 defensive boards.
Denver capitalized on their free throws, hitting 50% of their attempts, while the Thunder went 2-for-2, perfect in that department. Despite the slow shooting start for both teams, they were most effective in the paint, with each side scoring 18 points.
The Thunder took control in the second quarter, outscoring the Nuggets 33-24 to build a 10-point lead. Jalen Williams made a big impact, knocking down a clutch 3-pointer and blocking a Russell Westbrook layup. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued to make his presence felt on both ends, grabbing defensive rebounds and helping set up plays.
For the Nuggets, Jokić chipped in with some key free throws and a layup, but the team still struggled to find rhythm, particularly from long range.
The Nuggets made a strong push in the third quarter, cutting the Thunder’s lead to just 91-85 by the end of the period. Despite trailing, Denver showed their grit. Jokic was everywhere, grabbing defensive rebounds and dishing out assists like it was nothing. His quick feed to Russell Westbrook for a 3-pointer really had the crowd buzzing.
The Thunder hung tough, with Chet Holmgren hitting a clutch 3-pointer, but Denver’s depth and energy had the upper hand, keeping the momentum firmly on their side in the third quarter.
Game 1 of Round 2 lived up to every bit of the hype. It was Jokic vs. Shai, MVP vs. MVP, and the drama didn’t let up until the final buzzer. Despite trailing deep into the fourth, the Nuggets stormed back behind a fired-up Jokić, who poured in clutch points.
He started strong with 16 points and 12 rebounds in the first half, but in the fourth, he shifted gears into pure takeover mode. He hit a smooth jumper to make it 115-111, knocked down clutch free throws to give Denver a 117-116.
Aaron Gordon came in with the late-game heroics. After Jokić’s clutch plays, Gordon hit the game-winning 3 to cap off Denver’s incredible comeback and secure the 121-119 victory.
