2025 NBA PLAYOFFS West Semifinals: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Denver Nuggets (DEN leads 1-0)

[levon]

Chet needs to put on like 50lbs

Media day be like: Chet put on 50 lbs of pure muscle

[pepe1991]

Jokic is just thrilled that there's no more Zubac to deal with

" No 7'1- 280 pounds neighbours that like being touched ? Finally"

Jokić vs Zubac was fun because they are good friends and respect each other, no matter how physical it got, it never went beyond basketball.

[JM00n69]

Jokic is just thrilled that there's no more Zubac to deal with

People really thought IHART and Stick man can contain him. Lol casuals

[BigGargamel]

Denver hanging around in these playoffs with six legitimate NBA players on the roster.

I really wish Watson wasn't the worst offensive player in the NBA. Such an energetic, impactful defender but he's scared to play offense and can't make layups. Hard to play him 25 minutes a night.

[KGDirkTD_Fan]

Will never understand the logic of purposely fouling while you're up in any point of any game. It's literally giving points to the other team and sends a horrible message to yours. If you can't trust your team to get a stop to seal the win then you've already lost.

to be honest this is like Russell Wilson throwing the ball 2 yards from goal type of play. your down 3, force them to tie the game, nuggets played 7 games already. probably would have been fine if can guarantee Shai getting the ball who's a 90% FT shooter but it wasn't always the case and they played themselves.

[scrabbarista]

I think OKC is in deep trouble.

Nuggets just sucker punched them out of the gate. Chet might be mentally finished after THAT finish and Caruso likely doesn't shoot like that again.

I had Nuggets in 6 but now I say Nuggets in 5

OKC's first round matchup was too easy. They just faced adversity today and wilted under pressure. The Nuggets are former champs and way too battle tested, just played a Game 7 a few days ago so when the game was close, the advantage was theirs.

Think Grizzlies definitely would have extended the series if Ja didn't get hurt...they were up like 25 pts in G3 when Ja got hurt...in G4, despite not having Ja, Grizz still fought until last minute..it was a close game.

You're both right.

[Tracymcgoaty]

Are the entire OKC gonna huddle up for one exit interview when they lose in 6? They do everything as a team so im guessing the exit interview will have every player in there because they dont do interviews solo.

That team is so hard to root for. Caruso is the only one.

[76ciology]

An inexperienced team probably would’ve gotten blown out by the Thunder, especially early on and in the fourth when Jokic got hit with a flagrant 1 and the Thunder had a 14 pt lead.

But the Nuggets have Jokic, and he’s on that GOAT level. He and the whole team knew it, so they stayed calm and just chipped away at the lead, little by little.

The Thunder might have more talent, but there’s a real gap in terms of composure and resilience. The Nuggets’ ability to fight through the stretch is on another level. I just didn’t think the Thunder had that same stamina down the stretch.

[iggymcfrack]

If Jokic could win the title going through this ridiculous slate of teams, that would be the most impressive ring of all-time. Better than Hakeem in ‘94 and ‘95. Better than Duncan in ‘03. Better than LeBron in ‘16. I might have to move Joker up to #3 all-time if he could do that.

[Wolfgang630]

Westbrook had the game winning assist. It was scary af thinking he might drive it to the rim lol

[HotRocks34]

Jokic is just thrilled that there's no more Zubac to deal with

" No 7'1- 280 pounds neighbours that like being touched ? Finally"

Jokić vs Zubac was fun because they are good friends and respect each other, no matter how physical it got, it never went beyond basketball.

Yep. They're buds.

[JM00n69]

Denver hanging around in these playoffs with six legitimate NBA players on the roster.

I really wish Watson wasn't the worst offensive player in the NBA. Such an energetic, impactful defender but he's scared to play offense and can't make layups. Hard to play him 25 minutes a night.

PWat was really good start of the season as well. Took and made his threes. His cuts and passing made with no hesitation. After being out for injury he's come back like a deer in headlight on the offensive end. And his D tonight was really bad for him.

[Wolfgang630]

That Laker fan who hates Denver is nowhere to be seen now

[TheAlchemist]

I watched the highlights, Jokic was eating that front court alive like BBQ chicken. Hell Aaron Gordon was out muscling the crap out of Chet.

Chet played such a bad game defensively. SUCH a bad game. If by any chance OKC loose, i'm calling Bucks right away and saying the hell with Chet. Chet + all the picks and getting Gianis.

[Jazz9]

Great great win for the Nuggets!
That being said some of you are way too quick to dig OKC's grave. It was G1, they're far from done.

[Thaddy]

If Jokic could win the title going through this ridiculous slate of teams, that would be the most impressive ring of all-time. Better than Hakeem in ‘94 and ‘95. Better than Duncan in ‘03. Better than LeBron in ‘16. I might have to move Joker up to #3 all-time if he could do that.

If he remains healthy and gets decent pieces around him he'll finish in the top 5 discussion. I am kind of seeing him as a contender for the GOAT status if he gets a championship this year and another one before his career ends. The Nuggets need a new GM that will take a risk, trading Murray, MPJ, and even Gordon for 1-2 young pieces and additional picks then building a young supporting cast around Jokic might pay off in the long run.

[JM00n69]

Westbrook had the game winning assist. It was scary af thinking he might drive it to the rim lol

NGL when CB passed it to him I was just hoping he gets a foul on that drive. Russ passing it didn't even enter my mind

[Cubbies2120]

If Jokic could win the title going through this ridiculous slate of teams, that would be the most impressive ring of all-time. Better than Hakeem in ‘94 and ‘95. Better than Duncan in ‘03. Better than LeBron in ‘16. I might have to move Joker up to #3 all-time if he could do that.

100%

That would mean beating:
50 win team
68 win team
A 48/49 win team
Another 60 win team (most likely)

With no all star teammates. Amazing ROLE PLAYERS (AG, Braun), and a sometimes star (Murray).

[Revived]

America won tonight. Two great games and both big powerhouses choked it away at home to two teams that came back from 6 or 7 game series with very little rest.

Don't forget about Canada... we enjoyed it too even with the 25% tariff for watching lol

That was a good one lol

[Cubbies2120]

Westbrook had the game winning assist. It was scary af thinking he might drive it to the rim lol

NGL when CB passed it to him I was just hoping he gets a foul on that drive. Russ passing it didn't even enter my mind

I honestly thought he was gonna fumble the pass from CB. He hit him in the wrong side of his body with it. I was grateful he didn’t lose the ball…

Then, I was 100% sure he’s taking it to the cup and who knows what happens there with how he’s been finishing layups lately