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The Denver Nuggets stole Game 1 of their second-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road on Tuesday night. In what was an extremely entertaining game, Aaron Gordon hit a 3-point shot with 2.8 seconds left to secure a 121-119 win.
While Gordon hit the game-winning shot, Nikola Jokic turned in a massive performance in the win.
Jokic led the way for the Nuggets all game long, scoring 42 points on 15-for-29 shooting to go along with 22 rebounds, six assists, and two blocks. He did record seven turnovers throughout the game. Alongside him, Gordon scored 22 points and Jamal Murray chipped in 21.
Once again, Jokic showed why he is arguably the best player in the NBA. He put Denver on his back and carried them to a win against the best regular season team in the league.
Following his impressive performance, the Nuggets sent out a five-word reaction to Jokic's big Game 1.
"What a showing from Joker," they said simply.
What a showing from Joker pic.twitter.com/iMvM4HiF6p
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) May 6, 2025
In Denver's round one win over the Los Angeles Clippers, Jokic led the way as well. He averaged 24 points per game to go along with 11.6 rebounds, 10.1 assists, and 2.3 steals, while shooting 50% from the floor and 45.2% from 3-point range.
Fans are getting an up close look at the likely MVP top two finishers. Jokic and Thunder star point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are the two favorites to win the prestigious ward.
At least in Game 1, Jokic got the best of Gilgeous-Alexander.
Game 2 will be played on Wednesday night at 9:30 p.m. ET, with the game airing on TNT, truTV, and Max.
More must-reads:
- Bulls sign HC Billy Donovan to multiyear extension
- Nikola Jokic’s agent sparks LeBron James to Denver speculation with Instagram post
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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Kyrie Irving shares ridiculous practice story about Luka Doncic
Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic spent about a year together as Dallas Mavericks teammates, and that was more than enough time for Irving to collect some incredible practice stories about his former teammate. During a recent Twitch stream, Irving opened up about some of the things he saw Doncic do during Mavericks practices. He revealed that Doncic would put up absurd stat lines against his teammates, and once scored 24 points against someone in a three-minute span. “He’s giving you probably 60, 18, and 18,” Irving said. “I witnessed him give somebody 24 points in three minutes.” Based on Irving’s description, the big numbers feel like a fairly common occurrence. That might not quite be Caitlin Clark-levels of dominance, but it is pretty impressive all the same. There are some indications that Doncic is also starting to get his fitness in order. That might spell very bad news for opposing teams, and even opposing players in Los Angeles Lakers practices.
Cowboys make questionable move amid Micah Parsons stalemate
The Dallas Cowboys extended one of their stars Sunday, just not the one fans wanted them to pay. At Cowboys training camp Saturday, Dallas fans serenaded owner Jerry Jones with "Pay Micah [Parsons]" chants. The EDGE, of course, is set to play on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract this season. Jones must not have been listening. He gave tight end Jake Ferguson a new contract instead. Dallas and the 26-year-old pass-catcher agreed to a four-year, $52M contract extension, via NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. This move seems head-scratching. Parsons has won the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year and earned two first-team All-Pro nods since the Cowboys took him with pick No. 12 in the 2021 NFL Draft. The 26-year-old EDGE also finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Ferguson, meanwhile, is solid but not elite. In three seasons with the Cowboys, the 2022 fourth-round pick has made one Pro Bowl and has never finished with more than 761 receiving yards in a season. An extension for Parsons will devour future cap space. The Cowboys may be worried about that after giving quarterback Dak Prescott (four years, $240M) and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (four years, $136M) long-term deals in 2024. Pittsburgh Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt signed a lucrative three-year, $123M extension on July 17, making him the league's highest-paid non-QB. Parsons could command a similar contract. If cap space is Dallas' primary concern, however, why would it extend Ferguson? He's now set to be the NFL's seventh-highest-paid TE. The Cowboys waited to extend Lamb and Prescott just before the start of the 2024 season. They may be doing the same with Parsons. The star defender has said, "Ownership is always gonna make [contract negotiations] drag out." Regardless, the Cowboys should've paid Parsons before Ferguson. That's a much bigger priority for the team.
Stephanie White Puts Indiana Fever Players on Notice Despite Win Against Aces
The Indiana Fever’s starters turned in a strong all-around effort in Thursday’s 80-70 win over the Las Vegas Aces. The starting unit scored at least 13 points each, save for Aari McDonald, who registered nine points in 22 minutes of action. Indiana’s starters combined for 76 out of the team’s 80 points on the evening, which only means that the four other players who came off the bench accounted for just four points in the game. All that came from Sydney Colson, who went 2-of-5 in 18 minutes of playing time. Lexie Hull, Makayla Timpson and Damiris Dantas all failed to score in the win. Stephanie White Calls Out Fever's Bench Be that as it may, offense wasn’t even the biggest concern for head coach Stephanie White. In her postgame press conference, the veteran shot-caller called out Indiana’s bench for their lack of intensity on the defensive end, particularly in the first half. “Our bench has to be ready,” she said. “I felt like our bench in the second half was really good defensively. In the first half, I didn't feel that way. You got to be ready to come in and you got to be ready to guard your matchup and execute the game plan. "We have depth for a reason. We've got quality depth and we've got to be able to use it. So if fatigue is a factor in execution, then they just need to ask for a sub and I'll get them out and get them back in." It has been a bit of a busy stretch for the Fever at the midway point of the season. Thursday’s matchup against the Aces was their second game in three nights, and they will be back in action again on Sunday in a rivalry showdown against the Chicago Sky. White, however, isn’t accepting fatigue as an excuse. This is regardless of the fact that Caitlin Clark remains out with a re-aggravated groin injury. White is adamant that this roster has been built for adversity, and she didn’t hesitate to put her bench on notice after Thursday’s showing.
Mets Could Steal Massive Star From Their Biggest Rival
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