The Denver Nuggets had a horrific game two against the Oklahoma City Thunder but they turned the tide in a neck and neck game three that went to overtime. Nikola Jokic had his worst game shooting in a long time but the efforts of Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon overcame the three time MVP’s poor night and sealed the game in the clutch. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was held in check and a big night from Jalen Williamns wasn’t enough for OKC. Denver closes it out in OT and wins 113-104 to go up 2-1 in the series.

The Thunder got out in front early in the game. Isaiah Hartenstein hit a couple push shots and OKC pushed the pace. Denver tied it at eight after a Michael Porter Jr. three but the Thunder hit threes to beat the Nuggets zone and spark a 9-0 run. After a timeout, Denver responded with an 8-0 run of their own and pulled back within one. Both teams traded buckets for a moment before the Nuggets went cold and the Thunder went up eight while getting Jokic to pick up his second foul. Denver was able to trim the advantage by getting to the free throw line but still trailed going into the final minutes. They kept it close and at the end of the first quarter the score was 28-22.

Russell Westbrook was a menace to open the second quarter and helped get the Nuggets within a point. They started dropping threes after that and got their first lead of the game with just under nine minutes to go in the half. Porter was hitting shots which gave Denver offense while Jokic was on the bench but Chet Holmgren dominated on the other end. The Thunder kept a slim lead going through the meat of the quarter before the Nuggets got a bit sloppy and fell behind by seven. They found their footing after that but couldn’t string together enough shots to cut back into the lead. They’d get within four or so but then give up an offensive rebound or commit a silly foul and kill their momentum. At the half the Nuggets were down 56-51.

The Nuggets came out of the locker room with energy and got back within one before the Thunder responded by attacking the basket. OKC stayed up by a couple buckets while the Nuggets made minor mistakes like back to back basket interference calls. Jokic was also struggling terribly with his shot but his teammates had his back. Gordon and Porter both knocked down threes and Denver had it tied at 69 with five and a half minutes left. They kept it close by keeping the Thunder from scoring but couldn’t do more than take a one point lead going down the stretch. Oklahoma got the lead back but were up just a bucket going into the final minute after a big Peyton Watson three. The Nuggets couldn’t get the lead back to close out the quarter but stayed close. It was 83-80 OKC after three.

Both teams hit some threes to open the fourth with Denver staying right on the Thunder’s heels. Williams had his moments in the game and the start of the fourth was one of them, he kept Oklahoma in front while Shai got some rest. Both SGA and Jokic came back in to an air tight game and led their offenses. Jokic kept missing big shots but so did Shai. The Thunder maintained a one bucket lead midway through the quarter but were cold on offense. Murray tied it with a pair of free throws and four minutes to go. The intensity was at max with each team understanding the importance of the game. Murray hit a step back to take the lead briefly going into the final two minutes. Williams got it back for OKC by being assertive and put them up three with just over a minute left. Gordon hit a corner three to tie it with 26 seconds left and then a Thunder miss set up a final shot for the Nuggets. They got a good look for Jokic but he hit iron and we went to overtime tied at 102.

Denver hit the first two buckets of OT and quickly found themselves with a five point lead that Murray made seven after a nice fastbreak finish. The Thunder took a timeout and stopped the Nuggets from expanding the lead but strangely continued to feed Isaiah Hartenstein for floaters. That didn’t work out and a Gordon jumper to put the Nuggets up nine was the dagger. Denver closes strong and takes game two 113-104.