In a playoff opener that had fans on the edge of their seats, Nikola Jokić reminded everyone why he’s a two-time MVP and the reigning Finals MVP. The Serbian superstar went off in Game 1, leading the Denver Nuggets to a thrilling comeback victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder and giving his team a 1-0 lead in the series.
Denver trailed by as many as 15 points midway through the third quarter, looking flat against OKC’s young, high-energy squad. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had the Thunder rolling, draining midrange shots and slicing through the Nuggets’ defense seemingly at will. Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams provided strong support, frustrating Denver with their length and defensive versatility. But when the game tightened in the fourth quarter, it was Jokić time.
Jokić finished with a jaw-dropping stat line: 38 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists, notching another playoff triple-double and completely taking over down the stretch. Whether it was his soft floaters in the lane, his signature no-look dimes, or his ability to draw defenders and create opportunities, Jokić was unguardable.
Every time Oklahoma City seemed ready to put the game away, Jokić responded. He scored 16 points in the fourth quarter alone, including back-to-back buckets in the final two minutes that gave Denver its first lead since early in the second half. With under a minute left and the Nuggets clinging to a one-point edge, Jokić backed down Holmgren and calmly hit a fadeaway jumper off the glass — vintage Joker.
“He does it all,” Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said postgame. “We’ve seen it time and time again, but it never gets old. When the lights are brightest, Nikola finds another level.”
While Jokić was the story, the comeback effort wasn’t his alone. Jamal Murray added 21 points, including a clutch three with just under two minutes remaining. Aaron Gordon chipped in with timely defense and rebounding, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made several key plays to slow down OKC’s perimeter attack late in the game.
The Thunder, to their credit, played fearlessly. Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 32 points and looked every bit like a superstar. Holmgren had 15 points and 10 boards in his playoff debut, but struggled to contain Jokić in the post. The young Thunder showed they belong — but they also learned just how hard it is to close out games against a seasoned team like Denver.
“It hurts, but we’ll learn from it,” SGA said. “This series is far from over.”
With this win, Denver not only defended home court — they delivered a statement. This team is deep, resilient, and led by a player who’s arguably the most unguardable force in the game today. If Jokić keeps playing at this level, the Nuggets might be on another deep run toward a repeat.
Game 2 promises even more fireworks, but for now, it’s clear: The Joker is locked in.
