The Denver Nuggets stole the headlines in Game 1 after Aaron Gordon hit a game-winning three-pointer to take a 1-0 lead. The Oklahoma City Thunder had a 14-point lead in the game, but couldn’t close the game out as the Nuggets clawed back, courtesy of a stunning performance from Nikola Jokić.
Jokić had 42 points and 22 rebounds in the game, but Gordon stole the show after Westbrook passed the ball in the last phase of play, to hit a brilliant three-pointer. The Nuggets won Game 1 with a scoreline of 121-119.
So, with all the first-top seeds 0-5 in the semifinals, the Thunder looks to reclaim its authority by taking home Game 2. Let’s see what transpired in the high-pressure game.
Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Box Score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuggets | 21 | 35 | 20 | 30 | 106 |
| Thunder | 45 | 42 | 37 | 25 | 149 |
Nuggets’ Player Stats
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Porter Jr. | 25:11 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 2/10 | 2/8 |
| Aaron Gordan | 26:42 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 3/12 | 2/3 |
| Nikola Jokić | 32:18 | 17 | 8 | 6 | 6/16 | 2/4 |
| Christian Braun | 26:20 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1/6 | 1/4 |
| Jamal Murray | 31:22 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 4/9 | 3/5 |
| Russell Westbrook | 21:49 | 19 | 1 | 5 | 5/11 | 1/4 |
| Peyton Watson | 14:48 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 4/4 | 1/1 |
| DeAndre Jordan | 02:11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1/1 | 0/0 |
| Jalen Pickett | 13:03 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1/3 | 1/2 |
| Julian Strawther | 14:15 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 3/7 | 1/3 |
| Hunter Tyson | 12:00 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2/4 | 0/1 |
| Zeke Nnaji | 13:17 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1/4 | 1/2 |
| Vlatko Čančar | 06:44 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 |
| DaRon Holmes II | DNP | |||||
| Dario Šarić | DNP |
Thunder’s Player Stats
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Williams | 26:28 | 17 | 4 | 7 | 6/11 | 0/3 |
| Chet Holmgren | 26:21 | 15 | 11 | 2 | 3/8 | 2/3 |
| Isaiah Hartenstein | 22:11 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 6/7 | 0/0 |
| Luguentz Dort | 26:38 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 4/13 | 2/9 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 30:11 | 34 | 4 | 8 | 11/13 | 1/2 |
| Jaylin Williams | 12:23 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| Cason Wallace | 11:52 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 3/4 | 2/3 |
| Isaiah Joe | 17:02 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 5/5 | 4/4 |
| Alex Caruso | 09:45 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1/3 | 0/2 |
| Aaron Wiggins | 14:54 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 4/8 | 2/4 |
| Ajay Mitchell | 13:17 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 4/7 | 2/2 |
| Kenrich Williams | 12:00 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1/4 | 0/1 |
| Dillon Jones | 08:29 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1/1 | 0/0 |
| Ousmane Dieng | 08:29 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0/3 | 0/1 |
| Nikola Topić | DNP |
Nuggets vs. Thunder: Game Recap
The task was straightforward for every Thunder player, as they had a storming first quarter. The players shot ridiculously well from the field, scoring 45 points in the first half. They shot 71.4% from the field, 55.6% from beyond the arc, and 100% from the free-throw line.
Likewise, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 13 points, shooting 5-5 free throws, while Luguentz Dort had ten points for himself. The Thunder attacked the paint much more, unlike Game 1, and reaped the rewards.
In the meantime, Russell Westbrook picked up a technical foul, and managing him became critical for the Nuggets. Gilgeous-Alexander made crafty plays, driving into the lane and making beautiful layups.
Shai and the Thunder off to an ELECTRIC start to Game 2 ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/BrJn0S6lPC
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 8, 2025
It became a similar story in the second quarter, with Cason Wallace opening up with a three-pointer and another bucket to extend the lead to 27 points. In the meantime, Jokić started slowly, having just four points, two rebounds, and two assists.
The Nuggets had a small 5-0 run, trying to cut into the massive lead at the start. Yet, at 7:42, Gordon tried to get his team going but faced two back-to-back blocks from Alex Caruso and Chet Holmgren. Whenever they tried to retaliate, the Thunder pinged back immediately.
Moreover, the Thunder conquered the team with 21 rebounds, while Jokić struggled to grab boards, with the team having just 11 rebounds. The Thunder also pestered the Serbian center at every opportunity by effectively putting a body on him on most possessions. Until then, the Thunder defended the MVP frontrunner masterfully.
The Thunder also rotated well, with the bench scoring 23 points, contributing to their massive lead. At 2:51, Jaylen Williams climbed the imaginary ladder by emphatically dunking the ball home.
Likewise, Aaron Wiggins had another sensational putback dunk at 5:24 as the crowd erupted following the play.
Aaron Wiggins STRONG putback 💪
OKC up a lot! pic.twitter.com/9eDr7X42Zr
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 8, 2025
At 1:45, Isaiah Hartenstein picked up a technical foul for pushing Westbrook in a scuffle. But Jokić struggled from the free-throw line and missed it. Yet, he had 15 points to end the first half. While one MVP contender suffered, another was a man on a mission. SGA had 18 points and seven assists in a blinding first half.
At the end of the first half, the Thunder scored 87 points, the most in playoff history, as they dominated the scoreboard, posting 87-56.
Although they didn’t come in hard like in the first quarter, the Thunder controlled the game’s tempo, moved the ball around, and had open shots in the third quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander continued dominating the proceedings, improving his point tally to 32 at 1:15.
But it all went haywire for the Nuggets as Jokić got fouled out after receiving his sixth foul at 1:17. Hence, he ended the game with 17 points, eight rebounds, and six assists in a rather underwhelming performance.
Nikola Jokić has just fouled out of Game 2 👀 pic.twitter.com/zQo2cMX1fd
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 8, 2025
Likewise, Hartenstein showcased his passing ability by earning five assists in the game. Without Jokić on the floor, the Nuggets didn’t get going, and the team faltered at every step. Gordon couldn’t get it going as he did in the first half, as the Thunder dominated the proceedings.
The Thunder and the Nuggets cleared the bench for the fourth quarter with the game done and dusted. Gilgeous-Alexander had a breathtaking display, finishing the game with 34 points and eight assists. He shot 11/11 from the charity stripe, proving why he’s the world’s best free-throw shooter.
For the Nuggets, Westbrook became their top scorer with 19 points and shot 8/10 free throws. Unlike Game 1, the Nuggets faltered in Game 2 as the series heads to Denver for the next two games.
