Sat May 10 05:40:00 UTC 2025: **Nuggets Steal Game 3 from Thunder in Overtime Thriller**

DENVER — The Denver Nuggets rallied from a 43-point Game 2 loss to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 113-104 in overtime Friday night, taking a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference Semifinal series. Despite an off night from two-time MVP Nikola Jokic (20 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists, but 17-of-25 shooting and 0-for-10 from three), the Nuggets’ depth shone through.

Jamal Murray led the scoring with 27 points, while Aaron Gordon added 22 and Michael Porter Jr. had his best game since a playoff shoulder injury, contributing 21 points. The Nuggets’ late-game execution proved crucial, as they outscored the Thunder 11-2 in overtime, capitalizing on Oklahoma City’s struggles in the final minutes.

“I do believe late in games you can rely on what you’ve seen and felt and done,” said Nuggets interim coach David Adelson, referencing the team’s championship experience. Adelson acknowledged Jokic’s frustration with his performance but expressed confidence in his star player’s ability to bounce back.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder’s MVP candidate, also had a subpar game, scoring 18 points on inefficient shooting (7-of-22). Jalen Williams led OKC with 32 points, and Chet Holmgren added 18. Both Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic missed potential game-winning shots in the final seconds of regulation.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault, while acknowledging the loss, emphasized the team’s progress and the valuable experience gained from a hard-fought game. “Losses always sting,” Daigneault said, “but we are in the process of becoming a great team.”

Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday at Ball Arena.

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