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Denver nuggets stun Okc Thunder in NBA playoffs on Aaron Gordon Shot

Denver nuggets stun Okc Thunder in NBA playoffs on Aaron Gordon Shot

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The OKC Thunder suffered a home number of 121-119 against Denver Nuggets on Monday in game 1 of the Western Conference.

Here are five snack bars from the NBA Playoff game:

Carlson: Okc Thunder's collapse against Nuggets was a disaster in every respect. Recreation? It's not an easy task

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander helped Thunder to shake off the early rust

Would okc look rusty or rejuvenated?

That was the big question that the 1 -game -1 entered for the thunder, which hadn't played a game since April 26. And it didn't take long for it to find out.

It was a fully packed Paycom Center to break out in Okc's opening in Okcs when a praise passed in the direction of Isaiah Hartenstein. But after the big man grabbed the ball with his left hand, he blew the open dark.

The thunder showed some early signs of rust and lacked five of his first six shot attempts. Nevertheless, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the exception.

The superstar -Wachmann pushed the ball onto the floor with bad intentions at the beginning of the first quarter. He stopped at the freewurfine, brought Christian Braun to jump on a fake of the shot and jump past him before sank the jumper.

Gilgeous-Alexander broke out from the field (75%) for 14 points and six rebounds in the first quarter. OKC helped to demand a slim lead from 27-26.

Required reading: Thunder Squanders Game 1 against Nuggets and Chet Holmgren knows that he has to be “better”

Alex Caruso, Thunder finally went out of the depth

Alex Caruso had a little more Pep in his step after distributing a 3-point with 10:59 in the second quarter.

It was not difficult to understand why. That was the first made 3 of the night for the thunder, which missed his first 10 attempts.

Caruso ultimately bound five of his nine 3 points (55.6%) to end with 20 points. He helped the thunder to save his night from Deep and finished 15 for 43 (34.9%) as a team.

OKC fought these playoffs behind the bow. OKC only shot 31.3%in this department during his four games in the first round against Memphis.

More: Thunder-icons Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Russell Westbrook could not be more different

Nikola Jokic, Nuggets overcame tiredness

After Nikola Jokic was blocked at the end of the second quarter at the end of the second quarter, he slowly jogged back into defense.

The great man was bathed and his steps were even harder than usual when he stamped the floor up. All he could do was watching the energetic Gilgeous-Alexander who ran the Fastbreak and was fouled in a layup attempt.

While the disadvantage of Okc's lengthy leisure was a few early rust, Denver experienced his own setback from a series with seven games against the Los Angeles Clippers, which were completed on Saturday.

The nuggets sometimes looked gassed. But she pushed it through to her honor.

Denver was based on the glass and recorded an incredible 21 offensive boards. And Jokic ended with 42 points and 22 rebounds in one night when he registered for 42 minutes.

Denver then made a late advance and deleted a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter, and Aaron Gordon bored a 3-point with 2.8 seconds to steal the victory.

Denver has dug deeply, and in a series in which it doesn't have many chances to take your breath. There is only one day between the first six games, and the only two -day break would come before game 7.

More: Can SGA, Donner Nikola Jokic, Nuggets in NBA playoffs suppress? Here are four keys for OKC

Alex Caruso did Alex Caruso in defense things

Head coach Mark Daignault went with Caruso via Hartenstein to start the second half, and this decision paid off immediately.

Jamal Murray did not even get the ball past half court on the opening of the opening before Caruso stole him. The two-time all-defensive guard then drove to the edge of the simple layup.

Who would have thought that the most inconspicuous player strikes the most on the floor?

Caruso not only shone fire. He recorded a career-game-best-best-five-steal and added two blocks from the bank in 26 minutes.

More: NBA Playoffs Power Rankings: Who is number 1 under eight teams in the conference semi -final?

OKC must collapse now after the late breakdown

OKC took care of Memphis in his first round without much problems. It swept the grizzlies and won these games with an average of 19.5 points.

But the young thunder received its first belly bunch of the post -season in the form of a late breakdown on Monday.

Free throws turned out to be a difference in the route. Denver tried 16 free throws in the last six minutes and changed 13.

Chet Holmgren then missed two free throws when OKC had a lead of 119-118 with 9.1 seconds. This has set up Gordons Game-prize-crowned 3-pointer.

Gilgeous-Alexander ended with 33 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in the loss effort. Caruso added 20 points, six templates and five steals. Jalen Williams recorded 16 points and seven rebounds.

OKC will try to jump back if it takes place in game 2 at 8:30 p.m. CT Wednesday (TNT) in Denver.

More: Watch: Aaron Gordon from Denver Nuggets makes games 3 to annoy OKC Thunder in game 1

Justin Martinez covers sport for the Oklahoman. Do you have a story idea for Justin? It can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @jthesportsdude. Support the work of Justin and that of other journalists in Oklahoman by buying a digital subscription from subcribe.oklahoman.com today.

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