Thunder nuggets: 5 snack bars as Denver Forces Game 7

DENVER – For six games, the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder made everything available that everyone wanted in a semi -finals of the Western Conference. And now a bonus – a game 7.

This was secured with a further time and drama flipping competition when the Nuggets expanded the series on Thursday with a win of 119-107. Now Dessert comes after the main course.

What the Nuggets showed in the Ball Arena was the grit of a former champion and a persistent wish to stay alive. They also showed a way to actually lead a lead in the fourth quarter that brought them the last competitions.

They had too much Nikola Jokić, a performance by Jamal Murray and a surprise player. How for the thunder? OKC could never capture complete control over this game, and there was never the opportunity to close a team that seemed desperate.

And that's how it is. Sunday game 7 (3:30 ET, ABC) becomes a few Kia NBA MVP finalists and very probably another not 48 minutes if the current pattern applies.

Here are five snack stalls from a season -saving efforts of the Nuggets:

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1. Murray is sick with it

When he woke up on Thursday morning, Murray had a restless feeling – not about the game, but his availability for it. Murray sent an SOS to the Nuggets and suddenly, just a few hours before the beginning of game 6, he was listed as questionable with illness in the injury report. He took medication, had an IV.

This was an excretion game for Denver and Murray, as its history shows, the task. Previously, he had an average of 28 points, five rebounds and five templates in these situations. This time: 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Even Bette navigated 42 minutes, the highest in the team and two nights that play the entire fourth quarter, and did not collapse.

Has he ever thought that he wouldn't play?

“NO.”

Why so confident?

“Team needs you.”

Murray was his usual self, crashed into screens and defenders, found a rhythm that forced Joker some help and ultimately forced a game 7. This is further proof that Murray is one of the better off -season players in the league. He lacks an all-star appearance, but always saves his best for it when it really matters.

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2. No flop of the fourth quarter by the nuggets

In the last two games, the Nuggets took the lead of six and eight points into the fourth quarter and could not redeem the thunder for it, but at the same time Denver condemned himself with bad shootings and mistakes.

When her lead in the fourth day on Thursday was eight points, nobody took it for granted. Interims trainer David Adelman also knew that he had to advise minutes for Jokić (who played the entire second half of the last game) and for Murray (and maybe special).

“I kicked the last game by not taking any of them out of them,” said Adelman. “In this game I had four overruns and enables them to control their substitutions.”

He was able to stretch these time crossings to give both minutes to relax, and the nuggets did not suffer while they were off the ground. There were a few possessions that were sloppy, but OKC has never been closer than eight in the past nine minutes. And part of it was on …

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3. Strawher occur

In the first five games in this series, Julian Strawther played a total of 30 minutes-14 in MOP-UP service during a blowout in game 2 and not at all in game 3. Essentially he was a bank decoration when the Nuggets leaned heavily on the starter.

Well, with the players who reused and stretched the series for longer, Adelman had no choice but to find someone – someone – from his bank who could contribute to it. Strawther didn't disappoint.

In view of the situation, this was perhaps the best game of the Swingman career of the second year: 15 points in the second half, which made it possible for the nuggets to facilitate the burden of Jokić. His 3-point savings were particularly playful when he shot 3: 4 from Deep.

“We handed over its energy,” said Murray. “Super proud of him.”

Strawther commanded almost 20 minutes of playing time and almost matched his combined total of the previous five games, while he was only two points behind his entire after -season.

“I understood the task,” he said. “I have to do it again on Sunday.”

In exceptional cases, the nuggets have not planned a cave because of their bank. And Strawther is right – Denver needs an encore.

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4. The inconsistency of Jalen Williams continues

His roller coaster ride in this series is a mystery because Williams had a breakout season that led to his first all-star appearance. And yet he wasn't this player every evening. Rather like in every second night – if so.

When OKC needed a co-star for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32 points), Williams was missing. His night was somewhat summarized when he made a strip in the fourth quarter and had an outlierlayup – just to blow up the layup, even if the defense left him behind.

In total, Williams only shot 3 against 16 and only scored six points. He worked in other areas; His defense was solid (three steals) and he delivered 10 templates. Nevertheless, he shoots only 33%, 21% in the series and only had a real impact game (32 points in the loss of overtime).

Here are some of his shooting games: 5-to-20, 5-to-14, 2-for-13, 3-for-16.

“I just hurt us tonight without making any shots,” said Williams. “I came to spots that I wanted to come, they didn't go in. This is how basketball works.”

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5. Will Gordon go 7 one for game?

Aaron Gordon had a hard night. He never built a river and ended with only five points and seven rebounds, while he sent nervous moments through the crowd when he was pulled off by Alex Caruso on the open courtyard in the last minutes.

The nuggets didn't lose the game in this game, but have you lost Gordon? He immediately reached for his left -wing Oberschenke. Fortunately, 1:40 came in the fourth. In view of the fact that he didn't play much longer, it was difficult to judge how serious it was.

But when a player reaches this way, it is never a good thing, especially so deep in the season. (Just ask Stephen Curry the warrior.)

“I feel okay,” said Gordon. “We will see. I will now start the restoration process and make sure that I prepare for game 7.”

The Nuggets Hope Hope Murray's healing powers rub his teammates off. Gordon is obviously such an important player, especially in these playoffs, where he has two game winners and a third shot that forced an extension.

Here are some good news for him and the nuggets for the first time since April 27th to 28th two days between the games during their opening series with the Clippers. Since then they have played every other night, traveling.

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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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