The Denver Nuggets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-119 in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series Monday. Aaron Gordon hit a three-pointer with 2.8 seconds left to secure the victory for the Nuggets. Nikola Jokić also delivered a strong performance for Denver.
Gordon's shot capped a late rally for the Nuggets victory. The basket provided the final margin in a tightly contested series opener.
Nikola Jokić finished the game with 42 points, 22 rebounds, and six assists. His scoring and rebounding helped power Denver's push in the fourth quarter.
The Thunder held a significant lead in the fourth quarter, leading 108-95 with under seven minutes remaining. However, Denver outscored OKC 26-11 over the final minutes.
Before Gordon's decisive shot, Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren missed two free throws that could have extended the Thunder lead with 11 seconds left. Christian Braun secured the rebound, leading to the fast break possession for Denver.
On the Oklahoma City side, guard Alex Caruso made an impact coming off the bench.
Alex Caruso scored 20 points, handed out 6 assists, collected 5 steals, and blocked 2 shots. He shot 7-of-12 overall and made 5-of-9 three-pointers.
Caruso's performance marked a historic first in the NBA playoffs. He became the first player in the steals and blocks era to record at least 20 points, 5 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks off the bench in a playoff game NBA history.
The Thunder entered the series following a 68-win regular season and a sweep in the first round. They are led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The loss in Game 1 puts the Thunder behind against the Denver Nuggets.
Game 2 of the OKC vs Nuggets series is scheduled for Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET in Oklahoma City.
