The Oklahoma City Thunder got off to a dynamite start and never looked back, cruising to an easy 149-106 win over the Denver Nuggets and tying the NBA Western Conference Semifinals series to 1-1 on May 08.
Denver Nuggets Top Performers:
Nikola Jokic 17 PTS | 8 REB | 6 AST | 35.6 FPS
Jokic shot a brutal 6-for-16 from the field while committing 6 turnovers. While some inefficiency is inevitable, he should be able to bounce back with a much better performance in Game 3. He averaged 24 points, almost 16 rebounds, 11 assists and 3.25 stocks in four games against the Thunder in the regular season.
Russell Westbrook 19 PTS | 1 REB | 5 AST | 23.7 FPS
Russ came off the bench and provided a big spark with 11 quick points, finishing with his second straight game in the series with at least 18 points. However, foul trouble and turnovers continue to be major issues. Still, with his versatility and hustle, he should remain a valuable contributor in this series.
Jamal Murray 14 PTS | 4 REB | 1 BLK | 21.3 FPS
Murray shot well in this game, but with the Thunder in full control, he couldn’t make a bigger impact. Still, he’s been a consistent scorer throughout the postseason, scoring at least 20 points six times and no fewer than 13 in any game. He also went 3-for-5 from deep today, which he could build on heading into Game 3.
Aaron Gordon 10 PTS | 5 REB | 1 BLK | 19.5 FPS
Gordon struggled on offense and was less impactful today, but he remains a solid threat from deep against the Thunder—going 5-for-9 from three in the first two games, including the game-winning shot in Game 1. Even so, he’s been a reliable offensive option overall, scoring at least 19 points in each of his previous four games with strong shooting percentages and recording three 20-point performances at home. That said, a bounce back performance in Game 3 is very much possible
Peyton Watson 9 PTS | 2 REB | 1 STL | 14.4 FPS
Peyton hasn’t seen much minutes in the series but he’s certainly capable of scoring and racking up solid defensive stats.
Oklahoma City Thunder Top Performers:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 34 PTS | 4 REB | 8 AST | 48.8 FPS
SGA started strong, scoring 13 points in the first quarter alone and finishing his second consecutive game with 33 points and 8 assists. He was nearly unstoppable, going 11-for-13 from the field and a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line, along with an incredible +51 plus-minus—the highest by any player this century. It’s been a dominant season for the Thunder, who continue to raise the bar. They set a new NBA playoff record for most points in the first half and broke the franchise record for most points in a playoff game.
Chet Holmgren 15 PTS | 11 REB | 2 BLK | 43.2 FPS
Chet missed two crucial free throws in Game 1, which ultimately led to the loss. However, he completely turned things around today, going a perfect 7-for-7 from the line and finishing with his third double-double of the postseason. While he continues to struggle in offense, he continues to dominate on the defensive end, recording 15 stocks over his last three games.
Jalen Williams 17 PTS | 7 AST | 2 BLK | 37.3 FPS
JDub has been excellent against Memphis with four consecutive games with at least 20 points. But has been struggling with his perimeter shooting in this series, hitting just 16% from three in the first two games. Despite that, he has maintained solid overall production with consistent impact in the secondary categories. He should also be able to sustain this level of performance, as he did throughout the regular season.
Isaiah Hartenstein 14 PTS | 8 REB | 5 AST | 37.1 FPS
Hartenstein delivered a highly efficient performance, shooting 6-of-7 from the field without committing a single turnover. He has proven to be a dependable option at his position, consistently posting at least 12 points, 8 rebounds and a block in two games. He should continue to play a significant role in this series, especially as the team’s best option for defending Jokic.
Lu Dort 12 PTS | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 19.2 FPS
Dort has provided solid two-way value in the first two games, averaging 13 points and 2 stocks. He’s their best 3 and D player and should remain a valuable contributor going forward.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Christian Braun 3 PTS | 2 REB | 1 BLK
Braun finished with a double-double in Game 1 but wasn’t much of a factor today, struggling on offense and shooting just 2-for-8 from three in the series. Despite that, he’s more capable of finding his rhythm again. In four games against the Thunder in the regular season, he averaged 18 points and nearly six rebounds.
