The Denver Nuggets stunned the Oklahoma City Thunder with a dramatic comeback victory in Game 1, setting up a crucial Game 2 showdown Wednesday night that could shape the entire series.
Down nine points with less than three minutes left, the defending champion Nuggets rallied behind Nikola Jokic’s monster performance to steal home-court advantage with a 121-119 win.
Now the top-seeded Thunder find themselves in unfamiliar territory – needing to bounce back after a shocking home defeat.
The game tips off at 9:30 p.m. ET at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City and will be broadcast on TNT and truTV. Fans can also catch a free live stream on Jazz Sports.
Oddsmakers still heavily favor the Thunder, who enter as 10.5-point favorites despite the Game 1 loss.
## Injury Report
The Nuggets remain without rookie center DaRon Holmes II, who’s out for the season with an Achilles injury.
Oklahoma City is missing shooting guard Nikola Topic, sidelined for the year with a knee injury.
## Game 1 Drama
Monday’s series opener ended in stunning fashion when Aaron Gordon drained a three-pointer with less than four seconds left, capping Denver’s improbable comeback.
Jokic was simply unstoppable. The three-time MVP poured in 42 points and grabbed 22 rebounds, becoming just the fourth player ever to record at least 40 points, 20 rebounds, and five assists in a playoff game.
Jamal Murray added 21 points to support Denver’s late-game heroics.
“We didn’t want to miss the moment. We didn’t want to miss the opportunity,” Gordon said after hitting the game-winner. “I’m glad we showed our grit, but we are not satisfied.”
The assist on Gordon’s clutch shot came from Russell Westbrook, adding another layer of drama to the game. It marked Westbrook’s first playoff appearance in Oklahoma City as an opposing player after starting his career with the Thunder.
## Thunder’s Response
Oklahoma City’s regular season dominance makes this loss particularly surprising. The Thunder dropped consecutive games just twice all season and never lost more than two straight.
“We know it’s about how we respond,” said Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “There’s nothing we can do about what just happened, so there’s no point to have our head down or be sad about it or sulk about it. All we can do is be better for the next game, and that’s what we’re focused on.”
ESPN’s Basketball Power Index still gives the Thunder a 65.7% chance of evening the series in Game 2.
The Nuggets are riding some positive trends, going 8-3 in their last 11 games against Western Conference opponents.
The Thunder, meanwhile, have struggled historically in May, posting a dismal 3-16 record in their last 19 games during the month.
After Wednesday’s crucial contest, the series shifts to Denver for Games 3 and 4 later this week.
