Camille Naredo

Nikola Jokic #15 embraces Aaron Gordon #32 of the Denver Nuggets after making the game winning 3 point shot against the Denver Nuggets during Round Two Game One of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Garrett Ellwood, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 5: Nikola Jokic #15 embraces Aaron Gordon #32 of the Denver Nuggets after making the game winning 3 point shot against the Denver Nuggets during Round Two Game One of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE   Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Garrett Ellwood / NBAE / Getty Images / Getty Images via AFP)

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2025 NBA Playoffs - Denver Nuggets v Oklahoma City Thunder

Agence France-Presse

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1746509011241AFP__20250506__2213109119__v1__Preview__2025NbaPlayoffsDenverNuggetsVOklahomaCityThu.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Nikola Jokic #15 embraces Aaron Gordon #32 of the Denver Nuggets after making the game winning 3 point shot against the Denver Nuggets during Round Two Game One of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Garrett Ellwood, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP"/>Nikola Jokic #15 embraces Aaron Gordon #32 of the Denver Nuggets after making the game winning 3 point shot against the Denver Nuggets during Round Two Game One of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Garrett Ellwood, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP</div>LOS ANGELES -- Aaron Gordon scored a last-gasp three-pointer and Nikola Jokic produced a 42-point masterpiece as the Denver Nuggets stunned the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder 121-119 in a dramatic NBA Western Conference semi-final series opener on Monday.Nuggets forward Gordon drained a 25-foot effort from outside the arc with four seconds remaining to snatch victory against a Thunder line-up who had led by as many as 14 points in the third quarter at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.The Thunder continued to lead by double digits for much of the fourth quarter, but saw their advantage evaporate after 18 points from Serbian star Jokic in the final frame.The towering three-time NBA Most Valuable Player finished with 22 rebounds, six assists, two blocks and a steal in addition to his 42-point tally.Oklahoma City were left ruing two missed free throws from forward Chet Holmgren with 10 seconds remaining with his team defending a slender 119-118 lead.Those misses proved costly, with Denver rebounding and launching the final offensive raid that ended with Gordon&#x27;s winning three-pointer.Denver interim coach David Adelman paid tribute to the all-round effectiveness of Gordon, who finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds.&quot;I&#x27;m looking at ball-handling, responsibilities, leadership -- he is a Denver Nugget, the soul of our team,&quot; Adelman said. &quot;So cool to see him have a moment like that.&quot;<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BgtYzJw1cBg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></div>Gordon said the Nuggets&#x27; calmness under pressure had helped them close out the win.&quot;A lot of guys stepped up,&quot; he said. &quot;We had poise and a belief that we were going to win no matter the circumstances.&quot;Gordon and Jokic were backed by 21 points from Jamal Murray and 18 points from Russell Westbrook.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 33 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, with Alex Caruso scoring 20 off the bench after shooting five three-pointers.Game 2 of the best-of-seven series takes place on Wednesday.<div>© Agence France-Presse</div>

Aaron Gordon scored a last-gasp three-pointer and Nikola Jokic produced a 42-point masterpiece as the Denver Nuggets stunned the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder 121-119 in a dramatic NBA Western Conference semi-final series opener on Monday.

Aaron Gordon scored a last-gasp three-pointer and Nikola Jokic produced a 42-point masterpiece as the Denver Nuggets stunned the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder 121-119 in a dramatic NBA Western Conference semi-final series opener on Monday.

NBA: Jokic-inspired Nuggets stun Thunder in Game 1

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NBA: Jokic-inspired Nuggets stun Thunder in Game 1

Agence France-Presse

Published May 06, 2025 01:24 PM PHT

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