Every time you think they’re finished, they come roaring back. The Denver Nuggets proved once again why you simply can’t count them out. In a game that looked lost more than once, the reigning NBA champions delivered another unforgettable playoff performance, clawing their way to a gritty Game 3 victory on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
With the series tied 1-1 heading into a hostile environment in OKC, the Nuggets found themselves on the brink multiple times. The Thunder came out swinging, fueled by a raucous home crowd and a fast-paced offense led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. By the middle of the second quarter, Denver trailed by 14 points and looked completely out of rhythm on both ends.
Turnovers, missed defensive rotations, and ice-cold shooting plagued the Nuggets early. Jokić looked frustrated. Jamal Murray struggled to get into a flow. The Thunder, young and hungry, smelled blood. But if there’s one thing fans have learned about this Denver team, it’s that you never write them off.
Midway through the third quarter, something shifted. Aaron Gordon threw down a powerful put-back dunk that seemed to spark the team. From there, Jokić took control — orchestrating the offense with his trademark patience and brilliance. He began picking apart OKC’s defense possession by possession, hitting floaters, dishing out assists, and crashing the boards.
Jokić finished with a monster stat line: 31 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists, another playoff triple-double that highlighted not just his dominance, but his clutch leadership. But it wasn’t just the Joker. The supporting cast rose to the occasion when it mattered most.
Michael Porter Jr. knocked down two massive three-pointers in the fourth quarter to close the gap, while KCP’s perimeter defense helped neutralize OKC’s late-game momentum. And then there was Jamal Murray — quiet for much of the night, but loud when it counted. His step-back jumper with 1:07 left gave Denver their first lead since the first quarter, and his calm free throws in the closing seconds sealed the deal.
Denver outscored Oklahoma City 28-13 in the fourth quarter, silencing the home crowd and snatching the win in classic Nuggets fashion — late, dramatic, and determined.
Head coach Michael Malone praised his team’s toughness after the game: “This is who we are. We’ve been through battles together. We don’t panic, we trust each other, and we respond.”
The Thunder, for all their talent, just couldn’t put the game away. Young teams often learn tough lessons in the playoffs, and tonight, they learned the cost of letting the Nuggets hang around. Because if there’s any team you can’t afford to relax against, it’s Denver.
Now up 2-1 in the series, the Nuggets hold the momentum — and the mental edge. Game 4 is set to be another war, but one thing’s clear:
This team refuses to fold. Count them out at your own risk.
