Thunder nuggets: 5 snack bars from Denvers game 1 Stunner

A dark that defeated the buzzer by a second fraction. A 3 pointer that has withdrawn the aura of invincibility from the upper seed in the west.

Is there a different way how Aaron Gordon can earn a team group? Any other ways that Denver Nuggets can steal a decisive playoff game?

So breathtaking, so unexpected. Gordon and the Nuggets deducted that for the second time in about a week on Monday. Last time it was game 4 against the Clipperers when Gordon's Dunk turned this first round in favor of Denver forever.

But this time… he collected a pass from Russell Westbrook-dessen Redeemer tour well-and sank a 3-point shot together with all hopes of the first games in Oklahoma City with 2.8 seconds.

Yes, the thunder … remember you? Top seeds in the West? 68 games won? Has a 16-game pillow over the field overall? Memphis swept in the first round?

It's been a while since Okc Hoops shot, but that's the luxury that thunder deserves by taking care of the business. They only played four games over 21 days by Monday. They returned to work just to look like a team that came from a series with seven games and has no more petrol.

And why shouldn't OKC wait three points and Nikola Jokić on the floor on the top of the goal scorer?

Here are five snack bars from the Nuggets 1-0 in the series with a 121-119 thriller:

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1. Nuggets are not afraid

This is most likely the hardest matchup of Oklahoma City's playoffs. They beat the nuggets twice during the season to share the series. You have a championship blood line and big shot manufacturer. Your star may not be announced as a Kia NBA MVP 2025, but he is definitely the best player in basketball, and he has demonstrated so much Monday.

Denver had all the answers at the moment of truth. This is the heart and the mentality and experience of the champion at once. Before Gordon's game winners, the Nuggets had three chances in the last moments to take the lead.

This is the biggest hurdle of Oklahoma City – this core has won nothing special. And until the thunder in the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander era at least reaches the NBA final, its strength remains a problem, as was missed in Chet Holmgrens free throws that opened the door for Denver.

As far as the Nuggets are concerned, they didn't get anything from Michael Porter Jr. (two points) and only shot 31% of Deep, but still found a way to win on the street. A very big reason was Gordon (22 points, 14 rebounds and a very big shot) and …

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2. Jokić was no joke

He is just amazing and no longer stopped. His performance – 42 points, 22 rebounds, six templates – was back on another level. Oklahoma City has a big problem.

Remember that the thunder for this reason has signed Isaiah Hartenstein to add further defense against Jokić. Okc threw him and Holmgren, a few seven footers, his way. Sometimes they managed to frustrate Jokić visibly, but he still plowed and conquered.

The most impressive is how Jokić managed to play the last 18 minutes of the game in bad difficulties and still end the thunder and achieve 18 points in the fourth. And he did not fall in love with the 3 pointer and only took six while attacking OKC in color, an excellent strategy.

The nuggets that build with the clipper with the clipper with the seven games on the seven games are rolling. That means … …

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3. The schedule remains scary for nuggets

The limbs and tendons puck under normal circumstances at this time of year. And then there is what the nuggets have. Their pace was set weeks ago when the first round began, and it works like this: If you play, rest, rest … with thrown trips.

Game 1 of this semi -finals continued a challenging route for the nuggets. It was your eighth game over 16 days and you will play OKC every second evening in this series, unless it's seven. In this case, the Nuggets have two days between the games.

This would probably not be a task for deep teams such as cavs, Celtics and thunder. But the nuggets in their rotation go pretty much with six players, seven tops. Interim coach David Adelman expects his starters to grind more than 35 minutes a night. Played three 40 or more minutes on Monday. Your lack of quality depth does not provide the luxury of the rest break. Ultimately, she could catch up with this – as if you didn't have enough problems against the top seeds.

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4. Will Russ get another last laugh?

He is a basketball icon in OKC, even more than Kevin Durant. Whenever he checked into a game in this city, regardless of which uniform he is wearing, he gets standing ovation. And he returns recognition with a greeting.

Russ has no hatred for OKC. Nevertheless, they are in the way. And so he is amazed to treat the thunder like everyone else on his hit list. And what game 1 for him: 18 points from the bank for the nuggets, many energy games and a steady and smooth feed for Gordon for the game -winning basket.

Russ is only a few days away from his takedown of another former team, the Clipper. In the fourth quarter of the seventh game, he dived and deliberately hung on the rim to earn a technical only to emphasize the victory.

Since he left OKC, every other team who had Russ and unloaded him has been sitting at home and watching on TV: Rockets, Wizards, Lakers and Clipper. If you include the jazz that holds its rights for a minute, these are five teams that turn on the Westbrook Playoff tour.

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5. Caruso comes through

Josh Giddey gave up the thunder last summer to get Alex Caruso and gave him a rich extension of four years $ 81 million. Then they didn't play much all the season. Caruso received the ninth minutes in the rotation below 20 minutes a night and came from the bank. She was even surprised for a deeply blessed team.

Fine. They got him for it, the playoffs in the hope that his defense would overcome streaking shooting. And do you assume that he has delivered a good defense and decent shootout? That's what his game 1 was doing and maybe his best at OKC in view of the circumstances.

He had 20 points in 26 minutes and drained five 3s. He made defensive games – Blocked Jokić from behind, a chassown from Jamal Murray, and opened the second half with a strip of Murray and a layup. Caruso had a total of five steals together with two blocks and six templates for the best rated defense of the league.

But the thunder had no defense for Aaron Gordon. Now you are on the defensive, Down 1: 0 for the decisive game 2 on Wednesday (9:30 ET, TNT).

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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can send him an email Here you will find his archive here and follow him X.

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