Aaron Gordon scored the final five points of Game 1 on Monday to push the Denver Nuggets to a 121-119 win over the OKC Thunder. Gordon made two free throws before nailing the game-winning 3-pointer. Thunder forward Chet Holmgren missed two free-throw attempts with 9.1 seconds remaining to help pave the way for Gordon's heroics.
Nikola Jokic stubbornly kept the Nuggets in the game with 18 points and two assists in the fourth quarter. The three-time MVP's last point inched Denver to within 116-117 with 12.2 seconds to go. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dunked the ball following a timeout before Gordon carried the visiting team home.
The Thunder led 113-102 following a 25-footer from SGA with a little under five minutes left to play. Denver uncorked a 19-6 blitz to end the game and steal Game 1 and home-court advantage.
After outlasting the LA Clippers in a seven-game thriller, the Denver Nuggets visited Oklahoma on Monday to face the OKC Thunder in Game 1. The Nuggets punched a ticket to the second round after whipping the Clippers 120-101 on Saturday. Nikola Jokic and Co. opened the semifinals on the road against the top-seeded team, which had not played in over a week.
The Nuggets had a good start, but the OKC defense eventually settled to stifle the visiting team. Oklahoma dropped an 11-2 run to end the first quarter to edge Denver 27-26. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came out on fire, scattering 14 points, six rebounds and two assists.
The Thunder threatened to run away in the second quarter, but Denver doggedly kept up. Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon got going late to prevent the home team from breaking away. OKC led 60-50 at halftime.
The Nuggets battled back in the third quarter behind a sizzling offense and solid defense to keep the Thunder in check. Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook carried the Nuggets to a 35-30 advantage to cut the home team's lead 90-85 entering the final frame.
The Thunder blinked first late in the game. Chet Holmgren muffed two free throws before Aaron Gordon scored the game-winning triple.