Jokics 42-Point Power Play Sparks Nuggets Thrilling Comeback in Game 1

The Denver Nuggets triumphed over the Oklahoma City Thunder with a final score of 121-119 at the Paycom Center on Monday, thanks to a strong late-game surge.

After overcoming a 14-point deficit, Aaron Gordon capped off the comeback with a crucial three-pointer just 2.8 seconds before the game concluded, giving the Nuggets a 1-0 advantage in the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google.

Postgame, Nikola Jokic commended Gordon for his pivotal contributions, stating, “He made some significant free throws earlier and connected on both. He also boxed out Caruso effectively and hit a key shot for us. He’s truly the heartbeat of this team.”

In the opening game of this best-of-seven series, Jokic delivered an impressive performance, scoring 42 points on 15-of-29 shooting, including two three-pointers. He also dominated the boards with 22 rebounds, along with six assists, two blocks, and one steal, playing for 42 minutes.

“We usually find a way to win on most nights. Of course, there are times we struggle and don’t look as sharp, but overall, we have a good sense of how to create the shots we want, even against teams that play excellent defense,” he remarked, acknowledging the team’s experience in high-pressure situations.

Vlatko Cancar from Slovenia and Croatia’s Dario Saric did not see action for the squad coached by David Adelman.

For the Thunder, German center Isaiah Hartenstein contributed 12 points, nine rebounds, one block, and one assist in nearly 29 minutes of play. Ousmane Dieng from France and Belgium’s Ajay Mitchell did not enter the game, while Serbian Nikola Topic remained out due to recent knee surgery.