A team with the best record in the West, a 16-game lead in the standings, and a full sweep in Round 1—top-seeded Oklahoma City was supposed to have this in the bag. Instead, the Denver Nuggets walked into Paycom Center and stole Game 1, 121-119, in a way that left jaws dropped and fans gasping.
Aaron Gordon, the unlikely buzzer-beater king of the 2025 playoffs, delivered another ice-cold dagger—this time a 3-pointer with just 2.8 seconds on the clock—to flip the script, snatch the series opener, and ignite chaos in the Western Conference Semifinals.
This isn’t a one-off. It’s a pattern. A statement. Denver isn’t scared, and they aren’t going away.
Aaron Gordon, The Silent Assassin
Can we talk about clutch? Gordon isn’t just catching lobs or chasing boards—he’s dropping game-winners now. And not just any shot—this was a corner triple after a swift dish from Russell Westbrook, slicing through Oklahoma City’s illusions of playoff control.
“Redemption tour? Yeah, you could call it that,” Gordon said, drenched in victory and disbelief. “We’re not backing down.”
He poured in 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. But most importantly, he destroyed Oklahoma City’s comfort zone. Just like he did in the Clippers series.
This was the second game-winner Gordon has delivered in just over a week. Suddenly, he’s not just a role player—he’s the Nuggets’ playoff pulse.
Nikola Jokić: The Joker Who Never Blinks
Call him the best player in basketball and you’d still be underselling it.
Jokić’s Game 1 stat line: 42 points, 22 rebounds, six assists. And did we mention he was in foul trouble for the final 18 minutes?
Oklahoma City threw the kitchen sink at him. Isaiah Hartenstein? Swatted. Chet Holmgren? Overpowered. Jokić plowed through double-teams, crashed the paint, and outlasted them all.
And no, he wasn’t chucking threes. The Joker played smart—six attempts from distance, most of his damage done at the rim.
It’s not just numbers. It’s how he took over the fourth quarter, scoring 18 when it mattered most. Denver’s big man played like a legend.
David Adelman’s Short-Handed Warriors Keep Grinding
This wasn’t just a stunning win—it was a grueling one.
Denver’s schedule is brutal. Game 1 marked their eighth game in 16 days, and the punishment keeps coming with near-daily clashes. The Thunder, by contrast, had only played four games in the last 21 days.
Still, Denver’s six-to-seven-man rotation held up. Michael Porter Jr. had a quiet night with only two points, and the team shot just 31% from downtown—but they clawed it out.
Adelman is riding his core hard. Three players logged 40+ minutes. The depth is thin, but the resolve is thick.
That kind of grind wears on you. But it also forges winners.
Russell Westbrook: Revenge Tour Rolling Through Oklahoma City
The cheers when Westbrook entered the arena were deafening. A standing ovation in the house he once electrified. But Russ isn’t here for nostalgia—he’s here to win.
And boy, did he deliver.
In just 18 minutes off the bench, Westbrook dropped 18 points and served the perfect pass to Aaron Gordon for the game-winner. It was poetic. It was ruthless.
After eliminating the Clippers—his former team—in Round 1, Westbrook’s vengeance hit another target. And here’s the wild stat: every team that discarded him in the last few years is already out of the playoffs.
- Houston Rockets
- Washington Wizards
- Los Angeles Lakers
- LA Clippers
- Utah Jazz (who held his rights twice)
All of them are watching from home. Westbrook isn’t just playing with passion—he’s playing with purpose.
Alex Caruso’s Surprise Spark for OKC
Let’s not pretend the Thunder didn’t have their own flash of brilliance.
Alex Caruso, mostly a benchwarmer during the season, exploded in Game 1 with 20 points, five made 3s, five steals, two blocks, and six assists in just 26 minutes.
He was everywhere—blocking Jokić from behind, stripping Jamal Murray, and initiating fast breaks. For a team built on defense, Caruso embodied it.
He may have been acquired for playoff moments like this, and despite the loss, Caruso’s Game 1 performance gave OKC a fighting chance.
Game 1 was a stunner, but it’s only the beginning. The Nuggets may be exhausted, banged up, and shallow in depth—but they’re dangerous. They’ve got the best player in the world, the game’s newest clutch king, and a cast of battle-tested veterans playing like there’s no tomorrow.
Oklahoma City? They’ve been slapped awake. This isn’t Memphis. This isn’t rest and cruise. This is the defending champs, and they came ready.
I am a writer with a passion for technology and gaming. I write about a variety of subjects, including Esports, Games, Shows, and Sports. I create engaging and informative content for Hiptoro.