Nikola Jokic drops 42 points, makes OKC’s home crowd question reality, and Aaron Gordon plays hero in a game that defied physics and expectations.
OKLAHOMA CITY — If Nikola Jokic isn’t from Earth, now would be a great time to say so. The Joker went full my player on rookie mode in Game 1, dropping 42 points and grabbing 22 rebounds while doing things that made Thunder defenders look like they were on ice skates in a heat wave. The Nuggets escaped with a wild 121–119 win and took a 1–0 lead in the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Thunder looked ready to host a playoff block party when they built a 14-point lead in the third. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was grooving, Jalen Williams was flying, and OKC fans were already practicing their “We Want Boston” chants.
Then Jokic activated playoff beast mode. Fadeaways? Swished. No-look passes through defenders’ souls? Yep. Rebounds? Basically his property. The Thunder threw double teams, vibes, and possibly a kitchen sink at him. Nothing worked.
And just when it looked like we were headed for overtime chaos, Aaron Gordon — the fourth-most expected Nugget to shoot in crunch time — stepped up like he’d been waiting for this moment since gym class. With 2.8 seconds left, AG splashed a cold-blooded corner three that sent Nuggets fans into orbit and the Thunder crowd into stunned silence.
Let’s be real — this game had everything. A Euro big man rewriting gravity, last-minute heroics, and just enough playoff spice to make your eyebrows sweat. If this was Game 1, someone warn NASA before Game 2 — because Denver might go full rocket launch again.
Game 2 hits Oklahoma City again soon. Will the Thunder clap back or get Jokic’d twice?
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