Oklahoma City, OK – The Denver Nuggets rallied from behind to secure a thrilling 121-119 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals on Monday night. Nikola Jokic played a pivotal role for the Nuggets, notching an impressive 42 points and grabbing 22 rebounds, while Aaron Gordon capped off the comeback with a timely three-pointer in the closing moments.

As time wound down, the Thunder, who had been leading most of the game, found themselves out of timeouts and unable to set up a final play, leading to a rushed and unsuccessful attempt at a shot as the game clock expired.

Russell Westbrook, a former Thunder star making his return to Oklahoma City in a different jersey, provided the assist on Gordon’s game-winning shot. This marked Westbrook’s first playoff appearance in Oklahoma City as an opponent, adding to the dramatic atmosphere of the night.

Gordon’s performance was notable, as he contributed 22 points and 14 rebounds, marking his second game-winning shot of the playoffs. The first came earlier in the postseason when he delivered a buzzer-beating dunk to secure a victory against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Adding depth to the Nuggets’ offense, Jamal Murray scored 21 points, with the duo of Murray and Jokic involved in 89 of Denver’s points—a staggering 74% of the team’s total tally. Their collective effort was crucial as the Nuggets took control late in the game after a tense battle.

The opportunity for Denver to seize the victory arose after Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren unexpectedly missed two critical free throws, leaving the door ajar for the Nuggets to finalize their comeback.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with a strong game, scoring 33 points and collecting 10 rebounds while also dishing out 8 assists. Alex Caruso supported Gilgeous-Alexander with a solid contribution, finishing with 20 points, 6 assists, and 5 steals. The Thunder, who had recently swept the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, faced a significant challenge as they adjusted back into playoff form.

Jokic’s performance was not without its hurdles; he faced foul trouble during crucial phases of the game, picking up three fouls within a quick span in the third quarter after only having one in the first half. Despite this challenge, he managed to keep the Nuggets competitive, reducing the Thunder’s lead from 73-64 to a tighter 90-85 by the end of the third.

As the fourth quarter progressed, Jokic faced scrutiny after being assessed a flagrant foul for an elbow to Lu Dort’s head. With under seven minutes remaining, this foul marked his fifth, compelling the Nuggets to close the gap without their star center’s full impact.

In the final moments, the Nuggets’ determination paid off, as they weathered the Thunder’s efforts to reclaim their rhythm. With the victory under their belts, Denver established a strong road presence in the series, readying themselves for the next confrontation against a formidable Thunder team.