Jamal Murray scored 27 factors and Michael Porter Jr. bounced again with 21 clutch factors, main the Denver Nuggets previous the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder 113-104 in time beyond regulation Friday evening for a 2-1 lead within the Western Convention semifinal sequence.
Nikola Jokic added 20 factors and 16 rebounds, and Aaron Gordon had 22 factors for the Nuggets, who led by not more than two factors in regulation however went on an 11-2 run within the further interval.
Jokic went 8 for 25 from the sphere and missed all 10 of his 3-pointers however began the time beyond regulation flourish with a finger-roll layup and the Nuggets by no means trailed once more.
The opposite NBA MVP front-runner, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, additionally had a troublesome evening, lacking 15 of twenty-two pictures, going 1 for six from deep and ending with 18 factors. Jalen Williams led OKC with 32 factors and Chet Holmgren chipped in 18.
Recreation 4 is Sunday at Ball Area.
It was tied at 102 after regulation, and each Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic missed potential winners within the closing seconds of regulation. SGA missed a 12-foot jumper with 3 seconds left, and Joker missed a 19-footer on the buzzer.
After getting blown out by 43 factors in Recreation 2, the Nuggets knew their path to victory on this evening was staying shut till the tip once they might faucet into their mixture of expertise, house surroundings and shutting prowess.
The Nuggets trailed 83-80 after three quarters. They might have had the lead if not for back-to-back offensive goal-tending calls within the third quarter on Gordon and Jokic.
The Thunder took a 56-51 halftime lead due to Holmgren’s 16 factors and 7 boards. Porter, who was a mixed 3-for-18 from the ground in Oklahoma Metropolis, made his first 5 pictures, three from deep, to maintain Denver shut.
Paying homage to final yr when Jokic confirmed up for a playoff recreation at Ball Area dressed as Gru from Despicable Me, the Joker arrived Thursday evening dressed as, properly, the Joker, the DC Comics villain model.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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