Winning a championship is never easy. There are always trials and tribulations, and making it to the top of the NBA playoff pagoda requires teams to advance up each level, often step by step.
The Thunder took a massive step last season, but lost in the Western Conference semifinals. This season, they improved the roster and were poised to get to the next level.
After a 68-win regular season and sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, things were looking easy.
Then they lost the first game at home against the Denver Nuggets. After bouncing back with a 43-point victory in Game 2, Scooby Doo let out more Ruh Rohs, as the Nuggets took Game 3 in Denver.
The Thunder gathered themselves and won the next two games, looking poised to advance to the Western Conference Finals, but … it’s never easy. Denver won Game 6, setting up an “Anything can happen in a” Game 7.
Denver won the first period, 26-21 on Sunday. More Scooby snacks?
The Thunder were just getting warmed up, though, as they throttled the Nuggets, 39-20 in the second, before winning third quarter by 11 points. The lead swelled to as much as 43 points before cruising to the 125-93 victory.
The Thunder shot 49% from the field while holding the Nuggets to 39.3%. OKC dished out eight more assists, racked up 10 more steals and turned the ball over only 10 times. Denver turned the ball over 23 times which led to 37 points for the Thunder. OKC dominated in the paint, racking up 64 points compared to 42 for Denver.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,100; 54.25 FPTS) led the way with 35 points, three rebounds, four assists, a block and three steals in 36 minutes. He shot 12-of-19 from the field, 3-of-4 from downtown and 8-of-9 from the line.
Jalen Williams ($7,600; 43.25 FPTS) bounced back from a horrific shooting Game 6 to finish with 24 points, five rebounds, seven assists and a steal. He converted 10-of-17 from the field, 2-of-5 from downtown and 2-of-3 from the line.
Aaron Wiggins ($3,100; 24.5 FPTS) and Cason Wallace ($3,200, 22.25 FPTS) both did yeoman’s work off the bench. Wiggins put up eight points, four rebounds, three assists, a block and two steals in only 19 minutes. Wallace finished with seven points, three rebounds, five assists and two steals in 29 minutes. He also did this:
Alex Caruso ($4,200; 22 FPTS) was a team-high +40 and put up 11 points, three assists and three steals.
Nikola Jokic ($11,600; 39.75 FPTS) was stymied for 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in 37 minutes. He shot only 5-of-9 from the field, 1-of-2 from downtown and 9-of-11 from the line.
Christian Braun ($5,300; 30.5 FPTS) provided 19 points, four rebounds , three assists and a steal in 33 minutes. He went 7-of-14 from the field, 2-of-9 from downtown and 3-of-4 from the line.
Jamal Murray ($7,300; 24.75 FPTS) converted only 6-of-16 from the field and 1-of-8 from downtown. He finished with 13 points, a rebound, two assists, a block and three steals in 35 minutes.
Michael Porter Jr. ($4,800; 13.25 FPTS) and Russell Westbrook ($4,700; 14.25 FPTS) both shot poorly. Porter went 3-of-8 from the field while Westbrook was 2-of-7. MPJ finished with six points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal while Westbrook had six points, five rebounds and two assists.
The Thunder will now face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals. Game 1 is Tuesday at 8:30 pm ET in Oklahoma City.
