USA Today
The Oklahoma City Thunder grew up before our eyes on Sunday. They advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2016 after a 125-93 victory over the Denver Nuggets—the largest playoff win in franchise history.
Trailing by 11 early in the first quarter, the Thunder took the lead early in the second and never looked back.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points with four assists and three steals, proving why he’s an MVP finalist. Jalen Williams redeemed himself from a Game 6 low, scoring 24 points, including 17 in the second quarter. His performance helped the Thunder outscore Denver 39-20 as the game began to break open.
The Nuggets were down by just one with 3:10 to go in the second until the Thunder went on an 18-5 run in the final three minutes of the quarter to take a 14-point lead heading into the half.
The Nuggets never recovered.
Denver committed 23 turnovers and allowed 64 points in the paint, allowing the Thunder to score 37 off turnovers.
Nikola Jokic had 20 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, while Jamal Murray and Christian Braun combined for 32 points. Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Michael Porter Jr. (shoulder) were limited, affecting Denver’s effectiveness.
“What he played with today, I don’t know many people that would even attempt to go out there and run up and down,” Nuggets interim coach David Adelman said. “And he did it in Game 7 against Oklahoma City on the road. That that was one of most incredible things I’ve ever seen. He was extremely close to not playing. I was surprised.”
Cason Wallace’s dunk on Jokic electrified the crowd as the Thunder extended their lead. The team led by as much as 43.
Free-agent additions Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein guarded Jokic tirelessly, preventing easy opportunities. Caruso finished +40 on the court, contributing 11 points, three assists, and three steals. Chet Holmgren recorded a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double, complementing Hartenstein’s defensive effort.
Caruso was a +40 on the court, leading all bench scorers between both teams with 11, including three assists and three steals that helped the Thunder pile up their avalanche on the Nuggets. Chet Holmgren finished with a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double as he and Hartenstein took turns guarding Jokic throughout the series. The young upstart team handled the pressure well. The encounter was the highest-stakes game this young tandem has played as a core thus far.
“There’s not many games, you wake up in the morning and you know that you’re going to remember the game for the rest of your life, and Game 7 is one of them,” Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “To be able to focus through that and perform the way these guys did today was very impressive.”
Denver played a lot of zone against the Thunder, which will help them prepare against a Minnesota Timberwolves team that likes to implement the same strategy. Daigneault expressed high praise for Jokic and the Nuggets after their victory.
“We’re better now than we were at the beginning of the series, and it’s because of them,” Daigneault said. “They pushed us to the limit.”
The Oklahoma City Thunder now defeat the Denver Nuggets, advancing to the first Conference Finals in almost a decade. They are now the odds-on favorite to win the title as they face off against the Timberwolves Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
Yep, we have one too
