• Aaron Gordon hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds left, securing a 121-119 victory for the Denver Nuggets against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1.
• Nikola Jokic delivered a dominant performance with 42 points and 22 rebounds, marking the first such performance in a playoff game since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000.
• The Thunder's late-game collapse, including missed free throws by Chet Holmgren and a controversial fouling strategy, contributed to the Nuggets' comeback victory.

The Denver Nuggets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-119 in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series. The Nuggets overcame a 14-point deficit, fueled by Nikola Jokic's exceptional performance and Aaron Gordon's clutch shooting. The Thunder, despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's strong showing, faltered in the final minutes due to missed free throws and strategic missteps, handing the Nuggets a crucial road victory and home-court advantage.

• What: The Denver Nuggets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-119 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals, overcoming a 14-point deficit with a game-winning three-pointer by Aaron Gordon in the final seconds.
• Who: Key players include Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Christian Braun, Alex Caruso, and Russell Westbrook. The Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder are the primary organizations involved.
• When: The game took place on May 5, 2025. The game-winning shot occurred with 2.8 seconds remaining.
• Where: The game was played at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The Nuggets' victory highlights their resilience and ability to perform under pressure. Nikola Jokic's dominance established his continued MVP-caliber performance. Aaron Gordon's development as a reliable 3-point shooter adds a new dimension to the Nuggets' offense. The Thunder's loss exposes their inexperience and potential vulnerabilities in late-game situations. Their strategy of fouling Gordon, rather than playing defense, proved costly. The series is set to be a competitive and closely contested battle between two of the Western Conference's top teams.

"When I shot it, did I know it was in? I knew it wasn't a miss."

"He is the soul of this team. He probably doesn't get as much respect as he deserves. But I think he doesn't need it."

"He is the best player in the world. Plain and simple."

"We just didn’t want to miss the moment, didn’t want to miss the opportunity. We knew that if we waited, it may be too late. I’m glad we showed our mettle, our grit, but we’re not satisfied."

Despite the Thunder's strong performance for much of Game 1, the Denver Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic's dominant 42-point, 22-rebound performance, stole the victory with a final score of 121-119. Aaron Gordon's clutch game-winning three-pointer with 3.6 seconds remaining sealed the deal, marking his second game-winning shot of the 2025 playoffs. The Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 31 points and 10 rebounds, but Chet Holmgren's late missed free throws proved costly. Denver's ability to secure offensive rebounds (21 in total) and capitalize in the final minutes, overcoming an 11-point deficit with just over four minutes left, highlighted their resilience and championship experience. As the series shifts, the Thunder will need to address their rebounding and free-throw shooting woes to avoid falling into a 0-2 hole against the defending champions.