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Nightly Pulse: NBA News & Highlights from May 18

Follow along as two MVP candidates duel in game seven, with a trip to the Western Conference Finals on the line.

NBA.com Staff

Game 7: Win or Go Home 🏀

 

Thunder 125, Nuggets 93  (OKC advances 4-3)

 

 

Thunder Dominate Game 7 💪

 

Instant reactions 📝

  • OKC’s All-Stars Deliver: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 35 points will grab the headline, in this MVP finalist face-off, but Jalen Williams is just as responsible for the huge win today. Williams had 24 points on 58% shooting, more than half of which coming during the second quarter which saw this game flip.
  • Denver ran out of gas: Despite firing their head coach a week before the playoffs, the Nuggets looked the part of a veteran team ready for another postseason run this year. That unraveled over the course of the series as injuries to Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon, mixed with a monstrous workload for Nikola Jokić proved to be too much. Jamal Murray was largely ineffective tonight as well with 13 points on 16 shots.
  • Thunder’s depth on display: Looking ahead to the next round, the Thunder may have to lean on their bench as they did in game seven. Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins were difference makers tonight. Caruso and Wallace were +40 and +38 on the night, respectively. Their two-way abilities against Minnesota will be a key to watch as those teams battle for a spot in the NBA Finals.

 

SGA drops 35 in 37-point win 🔥

 

Pulling the Plug 🔌

Thunder 117, Nuggets 80

 

With nine minutes to go in the final period, the Nuggets have decided to pull their starting lineup. The outcome is a foregone conclusion at this point, barring a miracle Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams sank a pair of threes back-to-back before Head Coach Mark Daigneault subbed them out of the game, presumably for good.

 

3️⃣0️⃣ Point Lead ⛈️

Thunder 106, Nuggets 74

It appears now that a last gasp for Denver will be too little too late, or simply won’t happen. Oklahoma City is all over their opponent tonight, working on a margin of victory that would be the largest of the series. They’re continuing to cause havoc defensively leading to a bevy of easy points.

 

 

Final Quarter Underway

 

Joker on a Poster ‼️

Thunder 85, Nuggets 65

 

Cason Wallace is one of the unsung heroes for Oklahoma City tonight. He made a name for himself with this fast-break slam over the reigning MVP – with the left at that. He followed the dunk with a circus three from the left corner.

 

 

 

Lead Balloons to 23 🎈

Thunder 69, Nuggets 48

Denver is running out of time as the deficit is growing early in the third quarter. An Aaron Gordon flagrant foul contributed to an 9-2 start to the frame. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s shake-and-bake three forced a Nuggets timeout less than two minutes in.

 

 

OKC drops 39 in 2Q

 

 

After falling down double-digits in the first quarter, the Thunder have dominated ever since. Their 39-20 advantage in the second quarter set up a 14-point halftime lead. All-Stars Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have 17 and 16 points respectively. The difference maker has been the defensive activity. The Thunder have eight steals and three blocks, and are winning the turnover battle 12-3.

 

Denver is getting their usual scoring punch from Nikola Jokić, but the team has struggled getting him entry passes in the post. Jamal Murray has just four points while Michael Porter Jr. only has two.

 

 

One-Man Fastbreak ⛹️‍♂️💨

Thunder 60, Nuggets 46

 

Jalen Williams’ two-way prowess was on full display as the second frame came to a close. He scored three fast-break buckets, converting on steals, long rebounds and a frantic pace. He drained a triple as well in en route to 17 first-half points.

 

 

Defense to Offense 💰

Thunder 42, Nuggets 41

 

Alex Caruso and Lu Dort connect for this breakaway slam off of the defensive pick-pocket. Plays such as this were a staple of Oklahoma City’s regular season success. Denver has to  take better control of the ball or the Thunder will continue to capitalize.

 

Nugs X-Factor

 

The surprise contributor so far for Denver has been Christian Braun. He has 12 points at the half and has been the second-best Nuggets player.

 

Thunder take the Lead 👀

Thunder 29, Nuggets 26

That noticeable shift in momentum has carried over to the start of the second quarter. Oklahoma City’s defense is causing problems, forcing six turnovers so far. An Isaiah Hartenstein slam forces a Denver timeout as Nikola Jokić will likely re-enter the game. It’s a 8-0 run to begin the second.

 

Boost from the Bench ⚡️

Nuggets 26, Thunder 21

Denver’s execution was sharper to begin this game seven, building a double-digit lead midway through the quarter. The momentum began to flip in the final few minutes, as Oklahoma City’s second unit provided some much-needed energy. Alex Caruso was key in turning defense into offense and a closing run that shrunk the deficit to five.

 

Living at the Line

Nuggets 21, Thunder 10

 

Denver’s getting to the free throw line early and often. Nikola Jokić is 5-6 from the charity stripe, as Lu Dort picked up his second personal foul just halfway through the opening frame. Aaron Gordon’s first points came on an and-one possessions later to go along with five early rebounds.

 

Off to the Races 🏁

Nuggets 8, Thunder 4

 

These two teams are feeding off an electric crowd, and scoring early. Christian Braun scored Denver’s first four points, including a thunderous dunk to set the tone. Oklahoma City uses their first timeout less than three minutes into the game.

 

 

Tonight, the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Denver Nuggets in a decisive game seven. With MVP candidates Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading their respective teams, the stage is set for an instant classic. Here are some notes to keep in mind before tip-off.

 

 

  1. Aaron Gordon is in the starting lineup: The Nuggets swingman has been one of this postseason’s breakout players. He has two game-winning shots under his belt through two series, so it’s safe to say his contributions have been vital for Denver. Despite being diagnosed with a hamstring strain, Gordon is giving it a go today. His minutes and overall impact will be something to monitor.

 

 

  1. OKC’s first game seven in five years: Playoff experience, or lack thereof, has been a hot topic regarding this year’s Oklahoma City squad. They were lights out during the regular season while boasting the league’s best defense. The game seven environment will be new for most of their players, however, in contrast to Denver who’s coming off of a game seven in round one. It’s also worth noting Denver was eliminated in game seven of the second round by the Minnesota Timberwolves just last year.

 

 

  1. Thunder hold the best home record in the NBA: During the regular season, Oklahoma City lost just six games on their home court. This number edged out the Cavaliers for the best mark, and its carried over to the playoffs. The Thunder are tied with Indiana and Minnesota with a league-best 4-1 record at home during the postseason. Who was one of the six teams to beat the Thunder in OKC during the regular season, however? You guessed it, the Denver Nuggets, 140-127 back on March 10th. 

 

 

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