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OKLAHOMA CITY – A lot is at stake this Sunday: reputations, legacies, financial ramifications, career opportunities, promotions, and the vital chance to extend the season into the following week.
All of this tension arises from the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder being unable to eliminate each other through six hard-fought games in this fierce conference semifinal. Now, they face off in a Game 7 (Sunday, 3:30 ET, ABC), for a critical final 48 minutes (or more, should overtime be necessary).
This situation is uncharted territory for the current Thunder squad. Conversely, the Nuggets are seasoned in this scenario, having participated in more Game 7s than any other team over the past seven seasons, boasting a record of 4-2 in those matchups.
“Each game is like a unique chapter, a standalone story,” remarked Nuggets interim coach David Adelman.
Here’s what hangs in the balance:
For the Thunder, a top-seeded team that dominated the regular season with 68 victories, finishing 18 games ahead in the Western Conference, and having the highest point differential by a significant margin, now finds itself on shaky ground. A loss in this game, which would mean falling short in the second round, would be disheartening but not devastating; after all, Oklahoma City features the youngest roster in the league.
For the Nuggets, after parting ways with their head coach and general manager just a week prior to the playoffs, their internal situation appeared precarious only a month ago. A loss here would symbolize a culmination of turmoil, whereas a win could rejuvenate the team and change their trajectory for the better.
Adelman expressed enthusiasm for the situation: “We’re looking forward to the opportunity.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stated, “It’s do or die. This is what you strive for.”
Here are four aspects to watch in this concluding game of a series that has yet to fail in excitement:
Following six grueling contests, the Nuggets and Thunder are headed to Oklahoma City for this pivotal showdown.
The league’s most prestigious individual accolade has not yet been distributed, leading to tongue-in-cheek suggestions that it could be awarded to the rightful winner post-game.
However, voting for the award has already concluded, and it is fundamentally a regular-season honor.
That said, both Jokić and Gilgeous-Alexander, viewed as the frontrunners for this trophy, have additional motivation in this Game 7. Great athletes possess healthy egos and are always eager to measure themselves against their equally exceptional peers, especially when the stakes are high. The satisfaction derived from winning this match will be significant, as the basketball community awaits two decisive outcomes: the series result and the MVP honor.
Throughout this series, both Jokić and Shai have advanced their performances, with only a few moments of struggle. The defensive tactics employed against them have been both strategic and occasionally effective, but both have ultimately found ways to overcome these challenges.
For Jokić: Can he perform effectively against the trio of Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren, and Jaylen Williams? And if he succeeds, will he still have the stamina for a fourth-quarter push, assuming a close score awaits him?
For Shai: How does he balance the need to score with the necessity of facilitating? And will he receive favorable treatment from referees as he navigates through heavy traffic, generating trips to the free-throw line?
The result of the game may hinge on how these inquiries are resolved.
Set to Aerosmith’s ‘I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing’, check out Aaron Gordon’s game-winner from Game 1 of the Thunder-Nuggets series.
Aaron Gordon’s left hamstring remains a concern until he can demonstrate otherwise. He reached for the injury during the final moments of Game 6 and sought treatment immediately afterward. While he has had two days of inactivity, is it enough for an injury that typically requires substantial rest?
What is clear is that Gordon’s contribution to the Nuggets is considerable. His ability to seal games is crucial, as shown this postseason with two game-winners and another shot that forced overtime.
Furthermore, the Nuggets are thin on depth. Should Gordon be unable to play or be limited, those minutes will have to be filled by someone unaccustomed to high-pressure roles.
Adding to the urgency, with Michael Porter Jr. still compromised by a shoulder issue, the Nuggets are in dire need of scoring. Porter must dig deep—having scored three points or fewer in three games of this series—or face dire consequences.
The stage is primed for an emotional comeback. Russell Westbrook returns to Oklahoma City, the scene of his MVP win and potential future statue. This is a Game 7, and his performance in this series for the Nuggets has been, to put it mildly, inconsistent.
He has the opportunity to redeem himself and leave OKC with a triumphant roar or continue to illustrate the decline of a former superstar, facing numerous offseason inquiries about his future within the league.
The Thunder are blatantly showing him disrespect by leaving him open, inviting the Nuggets to pass him the ball. Instead of positioning himself closer to the basket where he’d have better scoring chances, Westbrook has been opting for perimeter shots. He has shot merely 18% from beyond the arc and 35% overall during this series, and in the last three games, he has recorded more turnovers than field goals.
Westbrook still possesses his relentless energy, making hustle plays that extend possessions. However, he also tends to jog back on defense after missing a shot or committing a turnover, leading to some uncomfortable moments for spectators.
Nonetheless, he has the chance to atone for his struggles, in the very arena where it all happened. The final chapter of this narrative is waiting to be penned.
The Thunder’s “strength in numbers” strategy has proven beneficial thus far. This advantage, alongside Shai, sets them apart from other teams. It allows them to absorb the occasional off night from players like Holmgren, Jalen Williams, or Lu Dort while still performing at a high level.
However, there could be a significant issue Sunday if Williams continues to struggle. His shooting performances include 5-for-20, 5-for-14, 3-for-16, and 2-for-13 in this series. His three-point shooting is absent. As the designated second option, Williams needs to produce alongside Shai. Yet if he starts poorly, how long will coach Mark Daigneault stick with him?
After the Nuggets implement a switchable zone to disrupt the Thunder in an elimination game, Oklahoma City has one last opportunity to counteract.
This is a tricky situation because most coaches stick with the players who guided them thus far. It would be surprising if Daigneault deviates from that strategy, especially given Williams’ rebounding and defensive skills. Nonetheless, Oklahoma City has the flexibility to turn to Cason Wallace or Aaron Wiggins, both of whom have excelled off the bench, should they require additional scoring.
The extended rotation of OKC has the effect of exhausting their opponents, who rarely find respite when a Thunder starter leaves the game. In a decisive Game 7, this could be a crucial factor.
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Shaun Powell has been covering the NBA for over 25 years. You can reach him via email here, explore his archive here, or follow him on X.
The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA, its teams, or Warner Bros. Discovery.
