Thunder Stunned by Nuggets, Knicks Beat Celtics (Reverse Roles)
Rewritten Article:
Denver Nuggets stuns Oklahoma City Thunder in a thrilling NBA Western Conference semi-final opener, snatching victory with a last-ditch effort.
A pulsating finish to the game at Oklahoma City's Paycom Center saw the Thunder's lead evaporate as Nikola Jokic, the towering three-time NBA Most Valuable Player, unleashed an incredible 18-point fourth quarter to lead the comeback charge. With four seconds remaining, Aaron Gordon drained a dramatic three-pointer to seal a stunning 121-119 win for the Nuggets.
Jokic's impressive performance on the night included 42 points, 22 rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and a steal. The Thunder, however, will rue two missed free throws from forward Chet Holmgren with 10 seconds remaining, as his team led 119-118.
Those missed free throws allowed the Nuggets to rebound and launch the final offensive raid. The rest, as they say, is history. Denver interim coach David Adelman praised the clutch performance of Gordon, who finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds. "I'm looking at ball-handling, responsibilities, leadership - he's the soul of our team," Adelman said. "So cool to see him have a moment like that."
Apart from Jokic and Gordon, the Nuggets also received valuable contributions from 21 points from Jamal Murray and 18 points from Russell Westbrook. The Thunder were paced by a game-high 33 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with Alex Caruso scoring 20 off the bench after hitting five three-pointers.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series takes place today.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, the New York Knicks emerged victorious in a nail-biting 108-105 win over the reigning champions, the Boston Celtics. A poor shooting night for the Celtics, who missed 45 three-point attempts, proved costly, despite 23 points apiece from Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby scored 29 points apiece for the Knicks, contributing significantly to their come-from-behind victory. The Knicks trailed by a massive 20 points early in the third quarter, but fought back courageously. "It was a great team win," Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said, while Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla lamented lax defense in the second half, particularly against good shooters.
As both teams prepare for Game 2, players are focusing on moving past any disappointments caused by their performances in the first game and looking ahead. "We don't have time to let stuff carry over," Jaylen Brown said, acknowledging the missed three-pointers and committing to a short-term memory approach.
In the thrilling Game 1 of the Western Conference semi-finals, Russell Westbrook contributed 18 points to Denver Nuggets' victory over Oklahoma City Thunder, despite their nail-biting finish. Aaron Gordon's dramatic three-pointer with four seconds left sealed the 121-119 victory. Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, the New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby both scored 29 points each, helping them secure a comeback 108-105 win over the reigning champions, Boston Celtics. However, the Celtics' poor three-point shooting night, where they missed 45 attempts, proved costly, despite Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum scoring 23 points apiece. Both teams now prepare for Game 2, with players emphasizing the importance of moving past their first-game disappointments and focusing on the upcoming game.
