The Denver Nuggets spoiled the OKC Thunder’s round-two home opener last night. What looked like a dominant performance from the one-seed in the West fell apart in the fourth quarter. A perfect scenario of missed free throws and a last-second three completed the upset in Oklahoma.
With the Nuggets narrowly getting by the Clippers in round one of the playoffs, many anticipated the two MVP favorites facing off. Nikola Jokic for Denver and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for OKC did not disappoint in their first postseason matchup.
The Nuggets center dropped a massive double-double, scoring 42 points along with 22 rebounds. Just as impressive, the Thunder point guard nearly amassed a triple-double, tallying 33 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. As glamorous as these stat lines are, neither would be the deciding factor when the buzzer rang.
When the game is nearing its end and victory is decided by one possession, everyone expects the likes of Jokic and SGA to get the ball. While Denver and OKC’s stars did their best to take control of the game in crunch time, sometimes the second or even third option becomes the new ideal.
The Thunder kicked off the fourth quarter with a five point lead. By the middle of the quarter, they would have extended their lead to 13. It was not looking good for the Nuggets. With three minutes left to play, it was still a three possession-game, Denver trailing 106-115.
In do or die fashion, the Nuggets largely backed by Jokic make their run. The star center for Denver scores nine of the teams last 15 points, including a three-point shot to cut OKC’s lead to one. The Thunder do not have a response on their next opportunity. 46 seconds left to play and the Nuggets now have the chance to take the lead.
Russell Westbrook, who contributed 18 points on the night, missed a good look from three. Aaron Gordon, who also had a double-double with 22 and 14, rebounds and gets his put back attempt blocked. Alex Caruso collects the loose ball after the block and gets it in the hands of SGA who is promptly fouled.
The Thunder lead still remains at one with Gilgeous-Alexander heading to the free throw line. He sinks both, extending their lead to three. Denver calls a timeout to set up a play, likely for Jokic. He receives the inbound and tries to bait a foul on a deep three point attempt, but the ref calls the foul on the floor. The Joker proceeds to hit both free throws, cutting OKC’s lead back to one.
The ball is back in the Thunder’s possession with less than 13 seconds left to play. They run a well executed play, inbounding to SGA with a clear path to the bucket. He quickly dunks the ball to extending the lead yet again to three points, 119-116. Denver is out of timeouts and Jokic was subbed out on the previous play, so they are forced to inbound the ball. Gordon catches the pass and is immediately fouled.
He sinks the first free throw, Jokic is subbed in, then hits the second as well. Just above 10 seconds to play, the Thunder look to inbound the ball with their one point lead. Denver does a great job of denying SGA the ball leading to Chet Holmgren catching the inbound and getting fouled.
With a chance to go back up three points, the seven-foot forward proceeded to miss both free throws. Off of the second miss, Christian Braun rebounds the ball and quickly advances it up the floor to Westbrook. Westbrook finds Gordon on the left wing for a clean three point attempt as the final seconds tick away.
The shot circles the rim and falls with 2.8 seconds left to give Denver a two point lead. Neither team with timeouts, OKC inbounds the ball and heaves a full-court desperation shot. It misses long as the buzzer sounds, sealing the victory for the Nuggets in a wild finish.
Many factors curated a perfect opportunity for Denver to win on their last second shot. They made their run with less than three minutes left to play. Had they waited any longer and the window of opportunity likely would have closed.
After an exchange of free throws, SGA’s quick dunk could have been pulled out to run more time off the clock forcing the Nuggets to foul. Instead of leaving 11 seconds on the clock, SGA, an almost 90% free throw shooter, could have been sent to the line with six to eight seconds left.
Regardless, up three points and Denver having no time outs, fouling Gordon may have not been the smartest move. Worst case scenario, if the Thunder do not foul, the Nuggets hit a three to tie and send the game to overtime. Best case, Denver misses and OKC wins a close one.
Having fouled Gordon, the hope is for him to miss at least one. He hits both, now putting OKC in a less than ideal situation up one. They know the Nuggets are looking to foul, so the Thunder want to get the ball in the best free throw shooters hands. Their play crumbles and they have to inbound to Holmgren, who is a less than ideal free throw option.
The OKC power forward shoots 75% from charity stripe this year and is only in his sophomore season. To say it is a surprise that he missed both when it mattered most would be dishonest. With no time to spare after the second miss, the Nuggets take advantage of this opportunity and advance the ball with precision.
When thinking of clutch players to hit big shots in big games, Jokic or Jamal Murray come to mind for Denver. When the clock is running out and there are no time outs left, however, whoever is in the right place at the right time takes the shot. Gordon was that player and knocked down a three with confidence, stealing Game 1 in Oklahoma.
The OKC vs. Denver matchup was highly anticipated with both the MVP front runners on opposite teams. They did not disappoint, but Aaron Gordon stole the show. The way the game was trending, it looked like the Thunder were going to have a runaway victory. Chaos ensued in the fourth and gave the Nuggets an opportunity to capitalize on. With his game-winning three, Gordon became the unlikely hero in the series opener.
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