Rating Nuggets Players vs. Thunder: Aaron Gordon Comes Up Clutch To Steal Game 1

Running on fumes just 48 hours after their Game 7 win over the Clippers, the Denver Nuggets showed no signs of backing down in their second-round opener against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. In a grueling 48-minute battle, the defending champs leaned on their signature resilience and playoff grit, rallying from a double-digit deficit to stun OKC 121-119 on the road. 

Nikola Jokic turned in another monster performance, outdueling fellow MVP finalist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but it was Aaron Gordon who delivered the dagger, burying a game-winning three in the closing seconds to complete Denver’s comeback and snatch a thrilling victory.

The Nuggets started strong, keeping the Thunder off the board early and grabbing a slim lead behind the steady offense of Jamal Murray and Jokic. But as the first quarter wore on, turnovers and sloppy execution let OKC claw back. 

A pair of highlight plays from Chet Holmgren and a late run tied things up, and Denver’s offense sputtered to close the period, trailing 27-26 after one. Things went from bad to worse in the second as fouls and miscues piled up. Oklahoma City pushed their lead into double digits while Denver struggled to find any rhythm. 

Jokic fought through physical defense, but with little help, the Nuggets found themselves down 60-50 at halftime despite a thunderous Gordon and-one dunk late in the quarter that offered a flicker of life.

After the break, Denver’s energy picked up, and they clawed back behind Jokic’s relentless inside work and timely buckets from Christian Braun. A 9-0 run fueled by Gordon and Murray cut the deficit to five, but every time the Nuggets threatened, Alex Caruso and the Thunder responded to keep them at bay. 

Jokic, battling foul trouble and physical defenders, willed his team to within striking distance heading into the fourth, but the whistle didn’t go Denver's way on a potential turning point late in the third that could’ve sent Holmgren to the bench with his fifth foul.

With their backs against the wall, Denver stayed aggressive in the final frame. They chipped away, trading blows while navigating the foul trouble on both sides. Jokic’s savvy play earned crucial free throws, and missed Chet Holmgren free throws opened the door for Gordon, who stepped up with ice in his veins, drilling a cold-blooded three to snatch victory from the Thunder and lift Denver to a statement Game 1 win. 

The Nuggets, weary but unbowed, showed once again why they’re the reigning champs. Let's provide a rating for every Nuggets player who made the court on Monday night.

Nikola Jokic: A+

Stats: 42 PTS, 22 REB (5 OREB, 17 DREB), 6 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 7 TO, 5 PF, 15-29 FG, 2-6 3PT, 10-13 FT, +10, 42 MIN

Jokic put the Nuggets on his back with a Herculean 42-point, 22-rebound masterpiece, reminding everyone why he’s the best player in the world. Despite heavy foul trouble and constant physical defense, he controlled the paint, drew fouls, and made clutch free throws to keep Denver within striking distance. His six assists and two blocks further highlighted his all-around brilliance, even as the seven turnovers showed just how much offensive load he carried.

Aaron Gordon: A+

Stats: 22 PTS, 14 REB (7 OREB, 7 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 7-15 FG, 3-6 3PT, 5-5 FT, +16, 39 MIN

Gordon delivered one of the biggest shots of his career, calmly drilling the game-winning three to cap a 22-point, 14-rebound gem. His relentless effort on the glass (seven offensive boards) and energy plays sparked Denver’s second-half comeback. Efficient from the line and beyond the arc, Gordon’s performance was a perfect mix of toughness and clutch shooting, the epitome of a playoff X-factor stepping up.

Jamal Murray: A

Stats: 21 PTS, 6 REB (1 OREB, 5 DREB), 6 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 4 TO, 3 PF, 6-16 FG, 2-7 3PT, 7-8 FT, +12, 44 MIN

Murray provided his trademark shot-making and toughness, finishing with 21 points and six assists while playing through heavy minutes. Though his shooting (6-of-16) was uneven, he hit important buckets during Denver’s rallies and navigated foul trouble smartly in the second half. His 7-of-8 mark from the free-throw line proved crucial in a tight game, as did his steady playmaking late.

Russell Westbrook: B+

Stats: 18 PTS, 2 REB (1 OREB, 1 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 5 PF, 7-13 FG, 1-5 3PT, 3-5 FT, +4, 30 MIN

Westbrook gave Denver a valuable scoring punch off the bench, adding 18 points with strong drives and timely midrange shots. While his perimeter shooting (1-of-5 from three) and five fouls were issues, his aggressiveness provided much-needed spark in key stretches. His +4 in 30 minutes reflected his solid contribution in a game where Denver needed every bit of energy.

Christian Braun: C+

Stats: 11 PTS, 13 REB (4 OREB, 9 DREB), 3 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 4 PF, 4-8 FG, 1-4 3PT, 2-2 FT, +15, 40 MIN

Braun did the dirty work, grabbing a career-high 13 rebounds and supplying hustle plays that kept possessions alive. His 11 points and three assists were solid, though his 1-of-4 clip from deep and four fouls limited his overall efficiency. Still, his physical defense and knack for making gritty plays made him a quietly valuable piece in Denver’s grind-it-out win. 

Peyton Watson: C

Stats: 3 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 2 STL, 2 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 1-5 FG, 1-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -22, 15 MIN

Watson struggled offensively, going just 1-of-5 from the field, but flashed his defensive potential with two steals and two blocks in limited minutes. His activity on that end helped slow OKC briefly, though his -22 plus-minus showed he had a rough night in terms of team impact. Denver will need more offensive confidence from him as the series progresses.

Michael Porter Jr.: D

Stats: 2 PTS, 4 REB (1 OREB, 3 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 1-8 FG, 0-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, -15, 24 MIN

Porter had a forgettable outing, scoring just two points on 1-of-8 shooting and failing to find any rhythm. Despite grabbing four boards and recording a block, his -15 in 24 minutes summed up his struggles. His usual floor-spacing threat wasn’t there, and he looked out of sync for most of the night, so Denver will need a big bounce-back from him in Game 2.

Julian Strawther: N/A

Stats: 2 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -10, 6 MIN

Strawther logged only six minutes in spot duty and made his lone field goal attempt. While he didn’t have time to leave a significant imprint, his brief stint was mostly to spell weary starters. With Denver leaning heavily on its core group, Strawther’s role figures to remain limited unless foul trouble forces David Adelman's hand.