The Oklahoma City Thunder made a grand entrance into the Western Conference Finals, defeating the Denver Nuggets 125-93 in Game 7. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shone with 35 points, while Jalen Williams contributed 24. This win marks the Thunder’s first trip to the conference finals since 2016.
Under Coach Mark Daigneault, the team handled the pressure of Game 7 remarkably well. "Not many games stick with you for life, and Game 7 is one of them," he noted. The Thunder finished the regular season with an impressive 68 wins, but faced tough competition last year, losing in the conference semifinals.
The Nuggets, last year’s NBA champions, had a strong lineup, including three-time MVP Nikola Jokić, who scored 20 points, and Aaron Gordon, who played through a hamstring strain. Despite the injury, Gordon’s determination impressed many, including interim coach David Adelman: "What he played with today was incredible," he said.
The game experienced a dramatic turn in the second quarter. Initially trailing by 11 points, the Thunder surged ahead, outscoring Denver 39-20 during that period. Their momentum carried into the third, with Cason Wallace electrifying the crowd with a dunk over Jokić.
This Thunder team is much improved from earlier in the series. "We’re better now than we were at the beginning," Daigneault remarked, acknowledging the tough challenges faced from the Nuggets.
In today’s NBA, playoff series can define a team’s season. Experts suggest that strong performances in high-pressure games can build confidence and set a tone for the future. Statistically, teams that perform well in decisive games tend to carry that momentum into the next round, making the Thunder’s journey to the finals one to watch closely.
For more coverage, you can find insights on ESPN, which regularly analyzes player performances and team dynamics in playoffs.