Chaos has enveloped the NBA playoffs, striking the top seeds in stunning fashion.
The second-seeded Houston Rockets were eliminated in the first round, the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers lost Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Indiana Pacers, and the second-seeded Boston Celtics lost Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series against the New York Knicks.
Late Monday, the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets, behind a massive offensive performance from All-Star center Nikola Jokic, defeated the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder 121-119 in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals series.
The Nuggets finished the game on a 19-6 run, capped by Aaron Gordon’s game-winning 3-pointer with 3.6 seconds left.
Game 2 is Wednesday in Oklahoma City (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT).
Nuggets vs. Thunder, Game 2
Here are winners and losers from Game 1:
Nuggets vs. Thunder Game 1 winners
Nikola Jokic
The Nuggets’ three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who is again a finalist for the award, had 42 points, 22 rebounds and six assists. He scored 18 points in the fourth quarter and was 15-for-29 from the field and 10-for-13 on free throws.
It was the fifth time he has scored at least 40 points in a playoff game and the first time he has had a 40-20 playoff game.
If he plays like that for the entire series, and he has proven he can, the Nuggets, who won the title two seasons ago, have a shot at returning to the conference finals.
Denver’s balanced scoring attack
Jamal Murray had 21 points, six rebounds and six assists, Gordon generated 22 points and 14 rebounds, Christian Braun delivered 11 points and 13 rebounds and Russell Westbrook had 18 points.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
MVPs aren’t decided in the playoffs. Votes were due before the playoffs began. However, Oklahoma City guard Shai-Gilgeous Alexnder once again showed why he’s a finalist for the award. He had 33 points (12-for-26 shooting), 10 rebounds and eight assists.
Aaron Gordon game-winners
Gordon had a game-winning dunk at the buzzer in Denver’s Game 4 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers and then added a game-winning 3 in Game 1 against Oklahoma City.
Alex Caruso
Caruso, the Thunder reserve, had 20 points, six assists, five steals and two blocks, and Oklahoma City outscored Denver by 13 points in Caruso’s 26 minutes on the court. He was 7-for-12 from the field, including 5-for-9 on 3-pointers. There’s a reason the Thunder acquired Caruso in the offseason from Chicago for Josh Giddey, and the Thunder signed him to a four-year, $81 million extension in December.
Nuggets vs. Thunder Game 1 losers
Oklahoma City’s fouling and clock management
With the Thunder leading 117-114 late in the fourth quarter, they played the foul game in an attempt to prevent Denver from tying the score with a 3-pointer.
The Thunder fouled Jokic with 12.9 seconds left and Gordon with 10.7 seconds left. They made all four free throws, and with Oklahoma City ahead 119-118, Thunder big man Chet Holmgren missed two free throws with 9.5 seconds remaining, setting up Gordon’s game-winner.
Ultimately, the decision extended the game and allowed Denver to stay within a possession of taking the lead. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault defended the strategy, saying it’s worked for Oklahoma City previously.
3-point shooting
Early in the second quarter, Denver and Oklahoma City were a combined 3-for-23 on 3-pointers, and Denver ended up 2-for-15 on 3s in the first half. Both teams found more success from that range in the second half but were still a combined 25-for-75 on 3s.
Rest
Having swept Memphis and not played since April 25, the Thunder faced the rest vs. rust question. Well, the Thunder showed rust especially down the stretch of a game in which they led by 11 points with 4:31 left.
Denver’s minutes
Two days after playing in a Game 7, four Nuggets players logged at least 39 minutes, including a game-high 44 minutes by Murray and 42 minutes by Jokic.
We will see how the minutes weigh on Denver throughout the series, but to win this game showed the Nuggets are more than ready for the challenge.