OKLAHOMA CITY – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shined with 35 points, while Jalen Williams contributed 24, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Western Conference finals after defeating the Denver Nuggets with a score of 125-93 in Sunday’s seventh game.
The Thunder, ranked as the best team, will face the Minnesota Timberwolves, ranked sixth, starting Tuesday. This is the first time Oklahoma City has reached the conference finals since 2016.
The Oklahoma City team achieved a record of 68 wins in the regular season. In the previous season, they fell to Dallas in the conference semifinals, despite being the first seed in the West.
On this occasion, the Thunder overcame Nikola Jokic, three-time Most Valuable Player, and a Denver team that was crowned NBA champion in 2023, in addition to defeating the Los Angeles Clippers in seven games in the first round this year.
Jokic recorded 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Nuggets on Sunday. Aaron Gordon, a key player for Denver during the playoffs, who scored the winning shot in Game 1 against the Thunder, started despite a left hamstring strain. Gordon contributed eight points and 11 rebounds in 25 minutes.The Thunder fell behind by 11 points in the first quarter, but took the lead at the start of the second. Oklahoma City outscored Denver 39-20 in the second period, taking a 60-46 lead at halftime.
Gordon was assessed a Flagrant Foul-1 for hitting Gilgeous-Alexander in the face early in the third quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander made both free throws, and then Williams hit a jump shot to give Oklahoma City a 66-46 lead.
Cason Wallace, in a fast break, dunked over Jokic, increasing the Thunder’s lead to 78-57 and unleashing euphoria among the fans. Oklahoma City led 97-72 at the end of the third quarter.
