The Denver Nuggets secured a huge 119-107 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday to tie their second-round series at three games apiece, forcing a win-or-go-home Game 7.
Denver’s group effort was kicked off by an 11-point first quarter from Jamal Murray, who had been questionable to play in the matchup due to an illness. His early heroics allowed the Nuggets to take a double digit lead early, but OKC’s relentless offense stormed back and opened up their own 12-point lead in the second quarter.
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The third quarter was a stalemate as both squads embarked on their respective scoring runs, trying to gain momentum and run away with a lead.
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Late in the third and early in the fourth, Julian Strawther came off the bench to lead a huge scoring run and extend Denver’s lead to 11. Nikola Jokic rested for much of this span and after he returned to the court to finish the game, the Nuggets held on to that lead to the finish line.
The two leaders for the MVP award did not disappoint as Shai-Gilgeous Alexander had 32 points and six assists for OKC while Jokic finished with 29 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists for Denver.
Strawther was lethal off the bench, putting up 15 points on 3-for-4 shooting from deep in just 20 minutes of action. Despite battling an illness, Murray finished with 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
The series will now be decided in a winner-takes-all Game 7 in Oklahoma City on Sunday.
James Parker is an NBA writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
