The Denver Nuggets wasted no time making a statement in their playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, securing a dominant 1-0 lead with a convincing Game 1 victory. Fueled by their championship pedigree and led by the ever-reliable Nikola Jokić, the defending champions showed why they’re still the team to beat in the West.
From the opening tip, Denver set the tone with physicality, precision, and poise. The Nuggets jumped out to an early lead, thanks to a balanced offensive attack and smothering defense that left the young Thunder squad scrambling for answers. Jokić, as usual, was the engine behind everything — orchestrating the offense with his signature passing, hitting midrange jumpers, and dominating the boards. He finished with 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists, narrowly missing yet another playoff triple-double.
Jamal Murray, who had been dealing with minor injury concerns coming into the series, looked sharp and confident. He poured in 22 points, including several momentum-shifting buckets that quieted any potential OKC runs. Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon also stepped up, providing energy on defense and timely shot-making that helped stretch the Thunder’s defense thin.
On the other side, the Thunder came into the game riding high after a strong finish to the regular season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, their All-Star guard, had his moments, dropping 26 points on a mix of silky drives and tough jumpers. But Denver’s experience and team defense made it tough for SGA to control the pace the way he usually does. Rookie standout Chet Holmgren showed flashes of brilliance on both ends, but struggled at times against the physicality of Denver’s frontcourt.
Turnovers proved costly for OKC, as Denver capitalized on nearly every mistake. The Nuggets’ bench also outplayed Oklahoma City’s reserves, with veterans like Reggie Jackson and Christian Braun bringing energy and hustle that translated into points.
Head coach Michael Malone emphasized after the game that this was just the beginning. “It’s one game. We did what we were supposed to do — protect home court,” Malone said. “Now we’ve got to stay focused and be even better in Game 2, because OKC is a tough team that’s going to come back hungry.”
Indeed, the Thunder have shown resilience all season, and there’s no doubt Mark Daigneault will make adjustments. Expect a more aggressive and disciplined OKC squad in Game 2 as they look to steal one on the road and even the series.
But for now, Denver holds the upper hand. Their blend of experience, unselfish ball movement, and defensive grit reminded everyone why they are still very much in the championship conversation. If they continue to play like this, Oklahoma City — and the rest of the league — may be in for a long postseason.
Game 2 is set to be another electric matchup, and all eyes will be on OKC to see how they respond to the early punch Denver just delivered.
