Connect with us

Basketball

Nuggets vs. Thunder Game 7 final score, results: OKC throttles Denver to set up matchup vs. Timberwolves

They’re the two best words in sports: Game 7.

The Thunder and the Nuggets met in a pivotal Game 7 in which the winner would go on to take on the 6-seed Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals. Heading into the game, the concern was for Denver’s injury report. Jamal Murray was still getting over the flu, and forward Aaron Gordon had been recommended to take multiple weeks off to recover from a hamstring strain. Instead of sitting as was expected, Gordon not only played and started, but totaled 25 minutes. 

📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

With the injury to Gordon and the game being in Oklahoma City, analysts were heavily picking the Thunder. Denver responded to the criticism strongly, jumping out to an early lead. The Nuggets actually led at the end of the first quarter 26-21. The Thunder showed how dominant of a team they can be though, continually going on long scoring runs. At one point they were up one point with about three minutes left in the half, and then was leading by 14 at halftime. 

This momentum for the Thunder sustained throughout the remainder of the game. The likely MVP winner, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, balled out as usual. He finished with 35 points, three rebounds, four assists and three steals. Jalen Williams was right on his heels with 24 points, but what isn’t on the box score is how effective he was on fastbreaks. Similarly, Alex Caruso had 11 points, but as a defensive demon on that side of the ball, helping to limit Nikola Jokic’s shooting from the field. 

Speaking of Jokic, the former MVP winner ends his season after tallying 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in Game 7. Gordon proved how tough he was by even playing in the game and had eight points with 11 boards. Denver will turn its attention to finding a new head coach this offseason, while Oklahoma City begins to gameplan for Minnesota. 

The Sporting News has you covered with results and highlights from Game 7 between the Nuggets and Thunder. 

Nuggets vs. Thunder score

 

NBA PLAYOFFS HQ: Live NBA scores | NBA playoff schedule | NBA playoff bracket

Nuggets vs. Thunder updates, highlights from Game 7

All times ET.

Final Score — Thunder 125, Nuggets 93

Fourth Quarter

5:52 p.m. — Denver has also subbed out all of its stars and they quickly put on their team gear signaling their day is done. All that is left to determine is how much the Thunder will win by as they advance to the Western Conference Finals to take on the 6-seed Timberwolves. 

5:50 p.m. — With the huge lead, OKC kept its starters in until there was 7:30 left in the game. The Thunder mass subbed out its starters, leading 114-76. 

5:42 p.m. — There are still 10 minutes to play, but it feels like this one is over. The Nuggets are shooting 37.9% from the field, and 20.0% from beyond the arc. The Thunder are hitting 49.4% of their shots from the floor an 25.8% from deep. With 10 to go, Oklahoma City is up 32 points. 

5:32 p.m. — The third quarter ended with a foul, and that could be a story in the final quarter. Here’s a look at players in foul trouble for the final frame:

Thunder

  • Luguentz Dort – 3
  • Alex Caruso – 3
  • Chet Holmgren – 2
  • Isaiah Hartenstein – 2
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 2
  • Aaron Wiggins – 2

Nuggets

  • Christian Braun – 4
  • Russell Westbrook – 3
  • Michael Porter Jr. – 2
  • Nikola Jokic – 2

End of 3rd Quarter — Thunder 97, Nuggets 72

Third Quarter

5:25 p.m. — The story of the game has been turnovers. Oklahoma City’s defense is not only forcing turnovers but turning them into points. With 1:29 left in the third quarter, the Thunder lead the Nuggets 20-2 in points off turnovers. 

5:15 p.m. — Jamal Murray is still battling his flu-like symptoms, but is starting to come alive in the third quarter. He made a three-pointer and then drove the lane and hit a running shot close to the basket.

Oklahoma City just keeps answering. Whenever Denver starts building momentum, OKC pulls off a defensive play and has a highlight reel play. The latest was Cason Wallace’s fast break dunk on Jokic. The Thunder lead 78-57 with 6:16 left in the third quarter. 

5:05 p.m. — Oklahoma City kept up its pace from the end of the first half. The Thunder went on a 9-0 run to begin the third quarter and lead 69-46 with 10:22 left. 

End of First Half — Thunder 60, Nuggets 46

Second Quarter

4:42 p.m. — The Thunder came alive down the stretch of the second quarter. Oklahoma City’s defense forced several consecutive turnovers that turned into fast break points. The Thunder were all of a sudden on an 11-0 run. Jalen Williams went off in the second quarter and heads into the half with 17 points and three assists. 

Oklahoma City goes into halftime up 60-46. 

4:31 p.m. — The Thunder are up 42-41 on the Nuggets with 3:10 left in the first half. Oklahoma City has shown how balanced its offense can be with each starter tallying at least five points, and no player having more than seven so far. 

Braun and Jokic continue being the main offense for Denver with a combined 24 points. 

4:26 p.m. — Gordon has been choosy about when he is going to use his full speed. He has taken some charges to the rim, but has needed to collect himself. He has eight points and eight rebounds with less than 4:30 remaining in the first half. 

4:20 p.m. — Aaron Gordon had five rebounds in the first quarter. He didn’t play the entire time, but has so far only gotten about a four minute break. 

Oklahoma City is struggling not to foul Jokic. Chet Holmgren, Hartenstein, and Dort all have two fouls midway through the second quarter. No player on the Nuggets has more than one so far. 

4:13 p.m. — The Thunder are rolling to start the second quarter. Oklahoma City has scored eight unanswered points, including a big putback dunk by Isaiah Hartenstein. 

End of 1st Quarter– Nuggets 26, Thunder 21

First Quarter

4:05 p.m. — The Thunder are starting to get into their gameplan on offense. OKC is capitalizing on good defense and starting fast breaks. The Thunder are going with alley-oops and big dunks tog et the crowd involved and finally managed to knock down a shot from beyond the arc with a minute to go in the quarter. 

3:57 p.m. — The Nuggets call a timeout with 4:37 left in the first quarter. The Thunder have not been deploying any sort of offense set on targeting Gordon’s lack of mobility. The Nuggets continue to capitalize on the play of both Jokic and Christian Braun. The duo has combined for 16 of Denver’s points with Braun hitting from beyond the arc and throwing down big dunks. 

3:53 p.m.— With 6:25 left in the first quarter, Nikola Jokic is heading to the free-throw line for the third time this game. The Denver big man keeps finding ways to the line, while also getting Thunder players some early fouls. The Nuggets up 16-8 early. 

3:44 p.m. — OKC takes an early timeout with 9:44 left in the first quarter. The Nuggets are out to an early 8-4 lead. Gordon’s hamstring seems to be holding up. He has a rebound so far, and just looks slightly more sluggish than usual. 

3:41 p.m. — Tip-off was scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET, but Game 7 gets underway at 3:41 p.m. 

Pre-Game

3:18 p.m. — The Nuggets are playing in their seventh Game 7 since 2019. Denver has gone 4-2 so far. 

2:58 p.m. — Even with the diagnosis that he needed to miss multiple weeks to recover, Aaron Gordon is going to play and start for the Nuggets in Game 7. 

2:45 p.m. — The Thunder are going through warmups. Oklahoma City is hoping to get back to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2016. 

2:30 p.m. — Russell Westbrook has had some big moments returning to Oklahoma City, but none are as big as this Game 7 against his former team.

2:15 p.m. — Jokic has arrived for the game. During this series we have seen him arrive in an incredible suit throwing tribute to the Joker cartoon villain, but on Sunday he looks like he is going to his first day of school…or his last day before summer break.

2:00 p.m. — Aaron Gordon is trying to play through a Grade 2 hamstring strain. It was estimated that he needs several weeks of recovery, but the forward knows how important Game 7 is, and is pushing to play, however it is unlikely. 

Nuggets vs. Thunder Game 7 start time

  • Date: Sunday, May 18
  • Time: 3:30 p.m. ET

Game 7 between the Nuggets and Thunder will tip off at 3:30 p.m. ET on May 18. With the Knicks closing out their series with the Celtics on Friday, the contest is the only game on the NBA slate on Sunday. 

How to watch Nuggets vs. Thunder Game 7

  • TV Channel: ABC
  • Live Stream: Sling

ABC will have the call for Game 7 on Sunday afternoon. For those looking to live stream the contest, Sling will have it available.

Nuggets vs. Thunder schedule

Date Game Time (ET) TV Channel/Live Stream
May 5 Game 1: Nuggets 121, Thunder 119 – –
May 7 Game 2: Thunder 149, Nuggets 106 – –
May 9 Game 3: Nuggets 113, Thunder 104 – –
May 11 Game 4: Thunder 92, Nuggets 87 – –
May 13 Game 5: Thunder 112, Nuggets 105 – –
May 15 Game 6: Nuggets 119, Thunder 107 – –
May 18 Game 7: Thunder 125, Nuggets 93 — —

Related Topics
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Must See

More in Basketball