DENVER — In a pivotal Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals, the Denver Nuggets outlasted the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 113-104 overtime victory. The win on Friday night was crucial for the Nuggets, who were still recovering from their staggering 43-point loss earlier in the series. Denver managed to exploit their seasoned experience, the supportive atmosphere of their home court, and their knack for clutch play in crunch time to secure the victory.
Jamal Murray led the team with 27 points, followed by Aaron Gordon’s 22, and Michael Porter Jr., who battled through a shoulder injury to score 21 points. This performance marked his best showing since injuring his left shoulder in the opening game of the playoffs. Throughout regulation, the Nuggets were often trailing but managed to stay within striking distance. They found themselves leading by no more than two points before exploding for an 11-2 run in overtime, capitalizing on the Thunder’s cold spell where they scored on just one of their nine overtime possessions.
Interim coach David Adelson highlighted the team’s ability to draw on their past experiences: “I do believe late in games you can rely on what you’ve seen and felt and done.” This resilience was evident as Denver took a 2-1 lead in the series, despite Nikola Jokic having a comparatively underwhelming night by his standards. Jokic ended the game with 20 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists but struggled with eight turnovers and a poor shooting night, missing 17 of 25 attempts.
Adelson humorously noted, “I mean, 20, 16 and six, what an awful NBA night,” acknowledging Jokic’s frustration. He remained confident that the All-Star would bounce back, remarking that in Game 4 Jokic would “touch it a million times” and encourages his aggressive play. Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday at Ball Arena.
The Nuggets took control in overtime with Jokic initiating the scoring with a layup, and they maintained the lead for the remainder of the period. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault reflected on the game, acknowledging the loss while emphasizing his team’s progress, “It’s obviously lousy to lose. But you can take a lot away, and we want to be a team that’s improving through the series.” He noted the challenging nature of the game for both sides.
For the Thunder, their own star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, also faced shooting challenges, converting just 7 of 22 attempts, with a single three-pointer in six tries, finishing with 18 points. Jalen Williams led Oklahoma City with 32 points, while Chet Holmgren added 18.
The regulation time ended tied at 102, and both Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic missed opportunities to clinch the game in the final seconds. With time expiring, SGA’s jumper and Jokic’s buzzer-beater both fell short.
Daigneault emphasized the value of the experience, noting, “Losses always sting, especially in the playoffs. But what I would say is we are in the process of becoming a great team.” The coach expressed pride in his team’s development and acknowledged that enduring and overcoming playoff adversity is a crucial part of their growth trajectory.