Nuggets vs Thunder: Murray, Gordon Shine as Denver Takes Game 3 Lead

Let’s be honest — this wasn’t the prettiest basketball game. It was messy, tense, and full of missed shots and missed chances. But that’s the playoffs. And on Friday night in Denver, when it mattered most, the Nuggets vs Thunder showdown delivered all the drama.

Despite a rough shooting night from Nikola Jokic — one of the worst of his playoff career — the Nuggets clawed out a 113-104 overtime win over the Oklahoma City Thunder to take a 2-1 series lead in the Western Conference semifinals.

And it wasn’t about Jokic being the hero this time. In fact, he said it himself:

“Basically, I was the worst player on the court tonight. But we won. And that’s what matters.”

That quote tells you everything you need to know about the night. Jokic went 8-for-25 from the field, missed all 10 of his 3-point attempts, and turned the ball over eight times. But basketball isn’t a solo act — and Friday night’s Nuggets vs Thunder battle proved that Denver is far more than just one man.

Denver’s Backbone Shows: Murray, Gordon, and Porter Step Up

With Jokic off, it was the rest of the old championship core that carried the load.

Jamal Murray played with fire, dropping 27 points and dishing out 8 assists. But more than that, his energy on defense set the tone down the stretch. His teammates noticed.

Aaron Gordon was Mr. Clutch again. With under 30 seconds left in regulation, and the Nuggets down three, he hit a cold-blooded 3-pointer to tie the game and send it to overtime. That’s the third time this postseason Gordon’s come through in the final 30 seconds.

And Michael Porter Jr., fighting through a painful shoulder injury that makes it tough to even lift his arm fully, still knocked down huge shots and grabbed key rebounds. He finished with 21 points and 8 boards — gutting it out for the team when it mattered most.

Those three combined to go 11-of-17 from deep — the kind of team-wide performance you need when your best player is having an off night.

“This team’s built different,” said Gordon. “We trust each other. We believe in each other. Everybody has a role, and when one guy’s down, somebody else picks him up. That’s what tonight was.”

Thunder Let It Slip Away

For Oklahoma City, this was a golden opportunity missed.

With Jokic out of rhythm, the Thunder had a real chance to take control of the series. Instead, they let it slip away — and it wasn’t because they didn’t have their own stars on the court. But like Denver, their top guy struggled too.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the front-runner for MVP this year, just couldn’t get going. He finished with only 18 points on 7-of-22 shooting. He was 1-for-8 in the fourth quarter. And shockingly, in overtime, he didn’t even take a shot.

“That’s on me,” Gilgeous-Alexander admitted. “In games like this, your top guys have to deliver. I didn’t.”

To his credit, he didn’t sulk or deflect. He owned it. And while he still contributed with playmaking — a playoff-career-high 24 potential assists — his teammates couldn’t cash in. They only made seven of those shots.

Denver’s defense deserves credit, too. They smothered Gilgeous-Alexander in the halfcourt, contested nearly every one of his attempts, and cut off the lanes he usually finds with ease.

“I’ll watch the film and figure it out,” he said. “That’s the job.”

Jalen Williams Nearly Carries the Thunder Alone

One guy who did show up for OKC was Jalen Williams.

He was fearless in the fourth quarter, scoring 16 of his 32 points and almost stealing the game. His late 3-pointer gave the Thunder the lead with under two minutes to go. Then, after a stop, he calmly sank two free throws to put OKC up by three.

But then Gordon hit that dagger. And from there, the Thunder unraveled.

They scored just two points in overtime. Two. For a team that thrives on movement, spacing, and shot creation, that’s brutal. Denver clamped down and didn’t let up.

“They made it hard,” Williams said. “We got stuck. We didn’t move the ball the way we should’ve. They just wanted it more in the end.”

Jokic’s Ugly Night Still Made a Difference

Here’s the thing — even on a bad night, Jokic still makes an impact.

He grabbed 16 rebounds. He blocked two shots. He had six assists and two steals. And that first possession of overtime? He drove in for a layup that gave Denver a lead they wouldn’t give back.

“I tried to just stay in it,” Jokic said. “Do the little things. Rebound. Defend. Find the open man. Nights like this happen.”

He wasn’t pouting. He wasn’t pressing. And his teammates never stopped trusting him.

That’s what culture looks like.

Source: Nuggets bounce back, outlast Thunder in OT to take Game 3

This Series Is Far From Over

Don’t get it twisted — this wasn’t a knockout punch.

The Thunder are young, hungry, and still full of talent. They’ll watch the tape, they’ll regroup, and they’ll come out firing in Game 4. Gilgeous-Alexander said as much — even flashing a smile as he left the court, despite the loss.

“It wasn’t because I was happy,” he clarified. “Some fans were chirping. I just smiled back. I’m not gonna give them the satisfaction of seeing me down.”

And he’s right — it’s just 2-1. The series is still very much alive.

For Denver, though, this game meant more than just a win. It showed they can gut out a victory when things aren’t going their way. It proved their core is still battle-tested and ready for the fight.

“This is who we are,” said Murray. “Tough. Resilient. Connected. And we’re not done yet.”

Up Next: Game 4 in Denver

Game 4 is set to tip off again in Denver, and the pressure is now on Oklahoma City to respond. The Nuggets have a chance to take full control, while the Thunder are hoping to remind the world why they were the No. 1 seed.

Will Jokic bounce back? Will Gilgeous-Alexander flip the script?

We’ll find out soon enough.

Read More: Panthers vs Leafs: Marchand’s Clutch Overtime Heroics Keep Series Alive