Ailing Jamal Murray, Nuggets down Thunder, force Game 7

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Listed as questionable before the game, Jamal Murray bucks illness as he and Nikola Jokic help keep the Nuggets alive and force a do-or-die Game 7 against the top seed Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals

Jamal Murray shook off an illness to produce 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, helping the host Denver Nuggets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, 119-107, on Thursday, May 15 (Friday, May 16, Manila time), and force a decisive seventh game in their Western Conference semifinal series.

Nikola Jokic finished with 29 points and 14 rebounds as Denver earned a trip back to Oklahoma City for Game 7 on Sunday. Christian Braun added 23 points and 11 rebounds, and Julian Strawther came off the bench to score 15 points, his postseason career high.

The Nuggets responded after squandering late leads in Games 5 and 6.

“To win that (fourth) quarter, after what’s happened the last two games, says a lot of our guys, and the fact that they can bounce back from anything, I keep saying that,” Denver interim coach David Adelman said. “We just keep finding our way.”

Michael Porter Jr. added 10 points for the Nuggets, who beat the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 7 to advance out of the first round. Denver lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 7 of last year’s Western Conference semifinals.

Strawther, who had a total of 17 points in this year’s playoffs before Thursday, scored all of his points in the second half to give Denver a lift off the bench with Murray compromised. Murray was listed as questionable before the game but played a game-high 42 minutes.

Strawther said, “Those are moments you dreamed about when you were little. Coming into the game, having all the guys believing you find your spots and be able to just make an impact.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 32 points, Chet Holmgren wound up with 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Luguentz Dort, Alex Caruso, and Cason Wallace scored 10 points apiece. Jalen Williams added 10 assists for Oklahoma City.

“We had the same opportunity in the second half that Denver did, and they outplayed us,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.

Murray hit a three-pointer to open the fourth, giving Denver a 93-82 lead, and blocks by Russell Westbrook and Peyton Watson helped keep the Nuggets comfortably in front.

The Thunder cut the deficit to 7, but Westbrook scored on an offensive rebound and Strawther hit two free throws to make it an 11-point game with just under eight minutes to go. Jokic came back in after a four-minute rest and hit a three-pointer and a floater to extend the lead to 102-88 with 6:09 left.

Strawther’s corner three-pointer made it 109-93 with 3:56 to play before Oklahoma City went on a 9-2 run to make it 111-102 with 1:53 remaining.

Williams said of the Thunder’s attitude moving forward, “We’ve been big on just saying it’s first to four. This game, kind of just have to be willing to wipe the slate clean.”

Westbrook hit a driving layup and the Nuggets made six free throws down the stretch to seal it.

Denver scored 12 consecutive points late in the second quarter to get within 61-58 at halftime. The Nuggets went on a 10-2 run in the final 1:37 of the third to lead 90-82 heading into the fourth.

Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon scored just 5 points, and he was seen grabbing at his left hamstring. After the game, Adelman said, “It’s nice to have two days to get guys right going into a Sunday matinee. Concern for Aaron is so high. He’s played through a lot through this whole season, so we’ll see where he’s at.” – Rappler.com