NBA playoffs: Thunder steamroll Nuggets in Game 7 to make Western Conference finals

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 issues, Jalen Williams added 24 and the Oklahoma City Thunder rolled into the Western Conference finals, beating the Denver Nuggets 125-93 in Game 7 on Sunday.

The top-seeded Thunder will host the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves beginning on Tuesday. It’s Oklahoma City’s first go back and forth to the convention finals since 2016. Oklahoma City received a league-best 68 video games within the common season. The Thunder misplaced to Dallas within the convention semifinals closing yr because the No 1 seed within the West.

This time, the Thunder needed to get previous three-time MVP Nikola Jokić and a Denver staff that received the NBA name in 2023 and beat the Los Angeles Clippers in seven video games within the first spherical this yr.

Jokić had 20 issues, 9 rebounds and 7 assists for the Nuggets on Sunday. Aaron Gordon, a key participant for Denver all through the playoffs who hit the winner in Game 1 towards the Thunder, began regardless of a strained left hamstring. He had 8 issues and 11 rebounds in 25 mins.

The Thunder fell in the back of by means of 11 within the first quarter, however took the lead early in the second one. Oklahoma City outscored Denver 39-20 in the second one length to take a 60-46 lead on the smash.

Gordon used to be known as for a flagrant-1 foul for elbowing Gilgeous-Alexander within the face early within the 3rd quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander made each unfastened throws, after which Williams hit a brief jumper to provide Oklahoma City a 66-46 lead.

Cason Wallace were given unfastened on a quick smash and dunked on Jokic to position the Thunder up 78-57, sparking delirious roars from the gang. Oklahoma City led 97-72 on the finish of the 3rd quarter and not appeared again.