Wed May 21 00:50:00 UTC 2025: **Thunder Dominate Nuggets in Game 7, Advance to Conference Finals**

**OKLAHOMA CITY** – Overcoming early jitters and a surprisingly resilient Aaron Gordon, the Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a dominant 125-93 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 7 of their Western Conference Semifinal series. The win propels the Thunder to their first Conference Finals appearance since 2016.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with a game-high 35 points, admitting he felt pre-game nerves, a rare occurrence for the typically composed star. “I was nervous, to be honest,” Gilgeous-Alexander confessed, “Just knowing what was on the line…To know if you don’t bring your A-game, it could all be over. But I think that nervousness motivated me.”

The Thunder started slow, falling behind by 11 points early in the first quarter as Aaron Gordon, playing despite a Grade 2 hamstring strain that would sideline most players, provided an initial spark for the Nuggets. However, the Thunder soon found their rhythm, fueled by an 18-5 run in the second quarter, spearheaded by Jalen Williams, who scored 11 of those points. Williams finished with 7-14 vs. the zone.

The Thunder cracked Denver’s zone defense which had been their Achilles’ heel throughout the series. Jalen Williams in particular caused havoc when he drove into the zone.

Defensively, the Thunder made a crucial adjustment, assigning guard Alex Caruso to defend Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic. Caruso, who gave up significant height and weight, effectively fronted Jokic and disrupted his rhythm, limiting his touches and offensive impact. According to Genius IQ, Jokic averaged 103.8 touches per 100 possessions in Game 7, the fewest in any playoff game in his career. He accounted for only 0.78 points per possession when he touched the ball and Caruso was on him.

“It’s a lot of hard work,” Caruso said of defending Jokic. “It’s just about competing…being relentless with my energy.” Caruso, acquired in the offseason, has brought invaluable experience and defensive expertise to the young Thunder squad.

With this commanding victory, the Oklahoma City Thunder prove that they are a team to be reckoned with.

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