Jamal Murray scored 27 points and host Denver Nuggett dominated overtime by beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 113-104 in Game 3 of the Western Conference’s second round playoff series.
Nikola Djokic missed all 10 of his three-point attempts in Friday’s game, finishing 25-8-8 from the field, but finished the night with 20 points and 16 rebounds for the Nuggets.
Game 4 will take place in Denver on Sunday afternoon.
Aaron Gordon scored 22 points in the bucket tie in the final minute of regulation, with Michael Porter Jr. finishing 5-6 from Deep and 21 points for the Nuggets, finishing 39-39 (45.9%) from the field.
“We had been in this situation before. We were poised,” Porter said of Denver’s ability to win a near game. “(Aaron Gordon) hit that big three and send it overtime, like he did all the playoffs. A big win.”
Jalen Williams scored 32 points for Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City was 7-1 from the field in overtime with two turnovers. Chet Holmgren had 18 points and 16 rebounds, while Shay Gilgauss Alexander finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Isaiah Hartenstein had 10 points and 10 rebounds on the 104 (38.5%) Thunder from the field.
“One of the things you need to do to be a great team is to reach the limits in the playoffs and to get to the challenges you’re facing.” “This team has created a habit of doing that over and over. I’m confident we’re continuing to do that, but we have to accept what this is.”
Jokic opened overtime with a layup, and Porter drained 3 pointers to 107-102. Williams missed the floater and earned sales, which led to Murray’s layup with 3:02 left.
Holmglen’s dunk with 1:56 left was the only basket in Oklahoma City overtime, and the Nuggets closed it.
“I think you can rely on what you saw, felt, did later in the game,” Nuggets manager David Adelman said of the team’s playoff experience. “You can feel the game you played a few years ago.”
Gilgeous-Alexander went 22-7 from the field, but moved ahead 93-92 with the first three pointers of the night, with 7:33 remaining in the fourth.
Oklahoma City led 95-93 after Murray split a pair of free throws with 5:58 left, with both teams getting colder off the field. Gilgeous-Alexander missed three straight shots, and Denver tied it with Gordon’s two free throws with 4:26 left.
Williams hit a layup and Murray tied it with two free throws at 97, moving Denver ahead with the remaining 17 footer with 2:17.
Luguentz Dort returned to Oklahoma City with a 3-pointer (his only night point).
Gordon’s three-pointer tied it with 27.5 seconds left, with Gilgauss Alexander missing the floater and Jokic’s 20 footer off at the buzzer and worked overtime.
Cavs slammed the Pacer in Game 3
In a previous playoff matchup on Friday, Donovan Mitchell scored 43 points, lifting the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 126-104 victory with the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Final Series in Indianapolis.
The top-seeded Cavs surpassed the 34-13 margin in the second quarter to cut Indiana’s deficit to 2-1 in the top seven series. Game 4 will take place in Indianapolis on Sunday.
With nine rebounds added, Mitchell created 14 of 29 shots from the floor and 14 of 14 shots from the free throw line. The six-time All-Stars took 13 attempts with 13 3-pointers after taking part in a 18-2 contest over the arc.
Cleveland’s Max Straths collected 20 points and seven rebounds, Jarrett Allen had 19 and 12, while Ruler of the Year Evan Mobley added 18 and 13 respectively.
Darius Garland finished with just 10 points while suffering from foul trouble. He was playing his first game since April 23rd to recover from a toe injury.
“(We) were 2-0,” said Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson. “It’s like it’s now. You’re being slapped, you hurt… They had to test it today. They showed a lot of fortitude.
Cleveland held the decisive 56-37 edge on rebounds, including an offensive 18-4 advantage.
Indiana’s Benedict Matlin scored 23 points from the bench, while Pascal Siakam added 18.
Star Tyrees Halliburton was limited to just four points with two-eighth shooting of the fourth Seed Pacers.
Cleveland will attempt to level the series on Sunday when Pacer hosts Game 4.
