Nuggets Edge Thunder 113-104 in Overtime to Lead Series 2-1

DENVER, CO — The Denver Nuggets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 113-104 in overtime in Game 3 of their Western Conference second-round playoff series on Friday night. Despite a challenging performance from star center Nikola Jokic, who struggled with shooting, the Nuggets secured the win, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Jokic finished the game with 20 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists, but had a tough shooting night, hitting only 8 of 25 shots and missing all 10 attempts from beyond the arc. He also matched a playoff career high with eight turnovers. Following the game, Jokic remarked, “Basically, I was the worst player on the court tonight. But we won the game, and that’s what’s most important.”

Jamal Murray was instrumental in the win, scoring 27 points and providing critical plays down the stretch. His contributions, especially in overtime, helped the Nuggets pull away from the Thunder, who managed only two points in the extra period.

The game was closely contested for most of regulation, with the Nuggets only leading by two points at one time. Aaron Gordon tied the game with a three-pointer in the final seconds of regulation, helping the Nuggets embark on an 11-2 run in overtime.

Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also had a frustrating night, scoring 18 points on just 7-of-22 shooting. Gilgeous-Alexander expressed his disappointment after the game, stating, “I didn’t do a good enough job of that tonight, and I think that’s the main reason for the outcome.”

Jalen Williams was the standout for the Thunder, scoring a playoff-high 32 points. However, the team struggled with shooting, making just 1 of 7 attempts in overtime, which sealed their fate.

Nuggets head coach David Adelman praised his team’s resilience, saying, “I think, late in the games, you can rely on what you’ve seen and felt and done.” Game 4 of the series is set for Sunday afternoon in Denver.