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The Denver Nuggets just shocked the Oklahoma City Thunder.
After trailing by as much as 14 in the second half, the Nuggets won game one 121-119 on the road.
They had just come off a seven game series against the Clippers and were 10-point underdogs to the best team in the league.
With all this adversity how did Denver pull it off?
Aaron Gordon's game-winning shot and huge night
It's been quite a ride in this year' playoffs for Aaron Gordon.
The Nuggets' forward had the game-winning three pointer in the final seconds after two missed free throws from Chet Holmgren. Russell Westbrook passed it across the court to Gordon who did not hesitate to pull up with five seconds to play.
ANOTHER AARON GORDON GAME WINNER 🤯 pic.twitter.com/yZNsU0zmzd
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) May 6, 2025It's Gordon's second game winner of the playoffs after winning it at the buzzer with an alley-oop dunk vs. the Clippers in game four.
He ended the night with 22 points (7-15) and 14 rebounds. His final shot was electric but it was arguably his second-best highlight of the game.
Late in the first half, the Nuggets were on a fast break when Gordon got the ball. The former slam dunk champion rose up and put OKC's Chet Holmgren on a poster.
AARON GORDON POSTER ON CHET pic.twitter.com/sMxXmrkRdh
— Justin Chen (@chen_justin_) May 6, 2025Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Both of Gordon's big plays came at the expense of Holmgren. He was all over the floor in the win, but those two moments will be remembered.
Gordon told TNT in the postgame interview that he's "just out there to make the right play."
It looks to be working out for him.
Nikola Jokic puts up another historic performance
It shouldn't be a surprise at this point. Nikola Jokic had another legendary game.
He finished with 42 points (15-29), 22 rebounds, and 6 assists.
He joins Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O'Neal, and Giannis Antetokounmpo as the only players in NBA history to put up a 40, 20, 5 game in the playoffs.
Joker is fucking amazing man pic.twitter.com/lDvVNy10tD
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) May 6, 2025One of Jokic's many standout moments was late in the fourth quarter when he brought the Nuggets within one.
Standing at the top of the arc, the Serbian took two jabs to try and make space from Isaiah Hartenstein. The Thunder big man was not swayed too much, but Jokic still pulled up and swished a three.
This jab step gave Jokic just the tiniest amount of space to get this three off. That is like Steph Curry type of space. pic.twitter.com/OG4SODHf5m
— Mo Dakhil (@MoDakhil_NBA) May 6, 2025Jokic has made a habit out of clutch performances for years. He's a champion and an MVP. But on a night when the Nuggets were coming off a game seven and on the road 48 hours later versus the best team in the league, the superstar rose to the occasion.
The Thunder blow the lead fouling up three
Oklahoma City led by 10 at halftime. Their biggest lead was 14 in the second half. So how did Denver come back?
It starts and end with free throws.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault prefers to foul when his team is leading up three. The strategy suggests it can be a better choice over giving the other team a chance to tie it with a deep basket.
But on a night when the Thunder shot 71% at the line to the Nuggets 81%, it could've been Daigneault's downfall.
When the Thunder led by three points with 11 seconds to play, the Nuggets had to inbound the ball with no timeouts and Jokic on the bench. It would've been advantageous to play it out and keep the big man on the sideline, but OKC immediately fouled in the backcourt allowing Jokic back in the game.
The subsequent possession, Holmgren missed both his free throws setting up the Gordon miss.
Daigneault took responsibility for the sequence postgame, suggesting that he may reexamine his strategy.
This jab step gave Jokic just the tiniest amount of space to get this three off. That is like Steph Curry type of space. pic.twitter.com/OG4SODHf5m
— Mo Dakhil (@MoDakhil_NBA) May 6, 2025The Thunder have seen a lot of success and it's come with this strategy, so Daigneault will likely keep employing it.
No matter the reason, OKC is down 1-0 in their second round series. They lost at home on a week of rest against a tired team. There will be a response in game two.
At least, that's what Thunder fans hope to see.
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