Nuggets Stun Thunder in a Game Sparked by Jokic's Play, Knicks Defeat Celtics
In a thrilling clash, the Denver Nuggets snatched a dramatic 121-119 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of their playoffs series. Aaron Gordon stole the show with a clutch three-pointer in the final moments, winning the game for his team. Gordon finished the match with an impressive 22 points and 14 rebounds, supporting Nikola Jokic's stellar 42-point, 22-rebound performance.
Thunder managed to maintain a double-digit lead for much of the fourth quarter, but a formidable 18-point surge from Jokic in the final frame wasn't enough to secure the victory.
Gordon's game-winning shot came off an assist from Westbrook with just 3.6 seconds on the clock. His double-double, combined with Jokic's dominance, gave the Nuggets the edge they needed to overpower OKC's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists).
The Nuggets displayed remarkable poise in the late stages of the game, erasing the fourth-quarter deficit with key contributions from Gordon and Jokic. Gordon's free throws and game-winning shot capped off an impressive comeback for Denver.
Denver interim coach David Adelman praised Gordon's all-round performance, hailing him as "the soul of our team." Speaking on the win, Gordon acknowledged that the team showed remarkable resilience, crediting their calmness under pressure.
Game two of the series will take place on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference semi-finals saw the New York Knicks edge past the reigning champion Celtics in a tense 108-105 encounter. A combined 29 points from Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby proved crucial as the Knicks fought back from a 72-52 deficit in the third quarter.
Brunson, in outstanding form, contributed five three-pointers to his 29-point haul, with Anunoby pouring in six from beyond the arc. The Celtics' shooting night was plagued with misses, as they missed an unprecedented 45 three-point attempts in the game.
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum led Boston's scoring with 23 points apiece, with Brown shooting only 7-of-20 from the field and making just 1-of-10 three-pointers. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla acknowledged that lax defense in the second half had cost his team dearly, promising to improve in the coming games.
Brown recognized the tough shooting night but emphasized the importance of a short-term memory, vowing to put the loss behind them and focus on Game 2 in Boston on Wednesday. © 2025 AFP
In the following playoff game, Oklahoma City Thunder struggled to secure a victory despite a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter. Aaron Gordon's game-winning shot, assisted by Westbrook, and his impressive double-double albeit in a tight competition with Nikola Jokic's dominance, gave the Denver Nuggets the edge they needed to overpower Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's performance.
Meanwhile, the New York Knicks edged past the reigning champion Boston Celtics in a thrilling encounter, coming back from a significant deficit in the third quarter. Jalen Brunson's outstanding form, featuring five three-pointers, and OG Anunoby's six three-pointers proved crucial for the Knicks' victory. The Celtics, on the other hand, missed an unprecedented 45 three-point attempts in the game, with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum scoring 23 points each but failing to maintain their shooting form.
Both Game two of the Nuggets-Thunder series and Game 2 of the Knicks-Celtics series are scheduled for Wednesday.
