Denver defeated Oklahoma City in the opening game of their playoff series, pitting the top two finishers in the league's MVP voting against one another. The Denver Nuggets secured a close win against the Oklahoma City Thunder, highlighting the contrasting styles and experiences of the Western Conference contenders.
The game featured significant runs by both teams, with the Thunder holding a double-digit advantage at points. Denver, seasoned in tight situations, navigated the late stages to find a way to win in the final ticks of regulation. The Nuggets played more than twice as many clutch minutes as the Thunder during the regular season, experience that proved useful.
Late in the contest, Oklahoma City head coach Mark Daigneault challenged a loose-ball foul called on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander involving Nikola Jokic. Despite SGA appearing to advise against it, the coach opted to challenge the unsuccessful decision. The play occurred with Jokic carrying five fouls, potentially influencing the decision to challenge and attempt to force the Nuggets star from the game.
Further late-game choices impacted the outcome. With seconds remaining in a one-point game, the Thunder chose to foul Denver while leading by three points. This strategy, while part of the team's philosophy, allowed the Nuggets to substitute Jokic back onto the court after he had been taken out for defensive purposes to avoid fouling. The decision to foul took only a fraction of a second off the clock and preceded Denver's game-tying score.
The series marks a notable convergence of the MVP race and playoff competition. It is the first time the top two vote-getters for the award have met in a playoff series since the 2016-17 season. This matchup between the likely MVP winner and the runner-up is rare, occurring 24 times since the MVP award was instituted during the 1955-56 season.
The opening game served as an early test for the younger Oklahoma City squad in a high-pressure setting. It required the team to address how it handles close finishes and strategic decisions in critical moments.
After the loss, SGA commented on the challenging nature of the series ahead.
“It should be fun,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after the game. “We’re going to find out what we’re made of, what we’re really made of.”
