The Denver Nuggets received an unimaginable opening recreation on the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have been absolutely rested after sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies 4-0 of their opening NBA Playoff spherical.
And up towards a battle-tested Denver Nuggets crew coming off a Sport 7 win over the LA Clippers, OKC received an almighty shock.
Main for a lot of the recreation, OKC couldn’t shut it out, and two late missed free throws from Chet Holmgren proved expensive.
Denver Nuggets first spherical hero Aaron Gordon stepped up with a dagger three within the remaining seconds to attain one other late winner.
The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder need to re-think after their loss, and a scarcity of rebounding was one key motive the Denver Nuggets took benefit.
Denver received the rebound battle 63-43, highlighted by the actual fact just one OKC Thunder participant reached double figures for rebounds, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Knowledge supplied through Couch Rating exhibits how solely two OKC gamers registered rankings above 8/10, SGA and the spectacular Alex Caruso, who contributed a beneficial 20 factors.
Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren struggled to make their stamp on the sport, whereas Isaiah Joe failed to attain a single level throughout his 13 minutes on the courtroom.
This recreation additionally noticed the primary postseason showdown within the battle of MVP contenders, with each SGA and Nikola Jokic having impactful video games. Between the 2 – Jokic shaded it.
Three Denver Nuggets performed hit double figures for rebounds, Nikola Jokic, recreation winner Aaron Gordon, and Christian Braun.
Jokic scored 42 factors and dominated with 22 rebounds. He scored two essential three pointers, though was 2-6 total.
The main disappointment throughout the recreation was Michael Porter Jr, whose postseason struggles continued in thew win.
Porter Jr’s efficiency was graded a miserly 4.9/10, after he managed to attain solely 2 factors in 24 minutes and didn’t register a single help.
His dangerous capturing night time noticed him rating 1-8 in complete and 0-3 from three, additionally accountable for one turnover.
After scoring a beneficial 15 factors within the Sport 7 win over the Clippers during which he was a 54.5% capturing on 6-11, Porter Jr is able to higher, and will be grateful his teammates pulled out the win.
