In a thrilling Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, Nikola Jokic dominated with a monster performance of 42 points and 22 rebounds to lead the Denver Nuggets to a dramatic 121-119 comeback victory over the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Aaron Gordon's clutch 3-pointer in the final seconds sealed the stunning win for the Nuggets, adding to his playoff heroics after a buzzer-beating dunk in the first round. Russell Westbrook, facing his former team in the playoffs for the first time as an opponent, played a key role in assisting Gordon's game-winner, highlighting the intense rivalry between the two teams.
Despite trailing for most of the game, the Nuggets rallied behind the dynamic duo of Jokic and Jamal Murray, who combined for 74% of Denver's total points in the contest. The Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 33-point effort, looked poised to secure the win before a critical missed free throw by Chet Holmgren opened the door for the Nuggets to steal Game 1 on the road. With tensions running high and physical play intensifying, Jokic's flagrant foul and subsequent foul trouble added another layer of drama to an already electrifying matchup between two fierce competitors in the quest for playoff glory.