Jamal Murray scored 27 factors, and the host Denver Nuggets dominated in additional time to beat the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder 113-104 in Sport 3 of their Western Convention second-round playoff collection.
Nikola Jokic missed all 10 of his 3-point makes an attempt in Friday’s matchup and completed 8-for-25 from the sphere however ended the evening with 20 factors and 16 rebounds for the Nuggets, who lead the best-of-seven collection 2-1.
Sport 4 is on Sunday afternoon in Denver.
Aaron Gordon scored 22 factors, together with a tying bucket within the closing minute of regulation, and Michael Porter Jr went 5-for-6 from deep and completed with 21 factors for the Nuggets, who completed 39-for-85 from the sphere (45.9 %).
“We’ve been on this state of affairs earlier than, we stayed poised,” Porter stated about Denver’s skill to win shut video games. “[Aaron Gordon] hit that large 3 to ship it to additional time, like he’s completed all playoffs. Enormous win.”
Jalen Williams scored 32 factors for Oklahoma Metropolis, who had been 1-for-7 from the sphere in additional time with two turnovers. Chet Holmgren had 18 factors and 16 rebounds, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander completed with 18 factors and 13 rebounds, and Isaiah Hartenstein had 10 factors and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, who had been 40-for-104 (38.5 %) from the sphere.
“One factor that it takes to be a fantastic staff is you get taken to the restrict within the playoffs, and also you’ve bought to rise to the challenges that you simply’re confronted with,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault stated. “This staff’s made a behavior of doing that repeatedly. I’ve full confidence we’ll proceed to do this, however now we have to embrace what that is.”
Jokic opened additional time with a layup, and Porter drained a 3-pointer to make it 107-102. Williams missed a floater and had a turnover, which led to Murray’s layup with 3:02 left.
Holmgren’s dunk with 1:56 left was Oklahoma Metropolis’s solely basket in additional time, and the Nuggets closed it out.
“I believe, late within the video games, you possibly can depend on what you’ve seen and felt and completed,” Nuggets head coach David Adelman stated concerning the staff’s playoff expertise. “You possibly can really feel a sport that perhaps you performed a few years in the past.”
Gilgeous-Alexander went 7-for-22 from the sphere however put the Thunder forward 93-92 along with his first 3-pointer of the evening with 7:33 left within the fourth.
Oklahoma Metropolis led 95-93 after Murray break up a pair of free throws with 5:58 left, and each groups went chilly from the sphere. Gilgeous-Alexander missed three straight photographs, and Denver tied it on Gordon’s two free throws with 4:26 remaining.
Williams hit a layup, and Murray tied it at 97 with two free throws and put Denver forward with a 17-footer with 2:17 left.
Luguentz Dort gave Oklahoma Metropolis again in entrance with a 3-pointer – his solely factors of the evening – Murray was referred to as for a journey with 1:31 remaining, and Williams made a pair of free throws to make it 102-99.
Gordon’s 3-pointer tied it with 27.5 seconds left, Gilgeous-Alexander missed a floater, and Jokic’s 20-footer on the buzzer was off, sending it to additional time.
Banged-up Cavs blow out Pacers in Sport 3
In an earlier playoff matchup on Friday, Donovan Mitchell scored 43 factors to carry the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 126-104 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Sport 3 of their Japanese Convention semifinal collection in Indianapolis.
The highest-seeded Cavaliers outscored Indiana by a 34-13 margin within the second quarter en path to slicing their deficit to 2-1 within the best-of-seven collection. Sport 4 is on Sunday in Indianapolis.
Mitchell, who added 9 rebounds, made 14 of 29 photographs from the ground and 10 of 14 from the free throw line. The six-time All-Star drained 5 3-pointers on 13 makes an attempt after getting into the competition simply 2-for-18 from past the arc.
Cleveland’s Max Strus collected 20 factors and 7 rebounds, Jarrett Allen had 19 and 12, and reigning Defensive Participant of the Yr Evan Mobley added 18 and 13, respectively, in his return from a one-game absence attributable to a sprained left ankle.
Darius Garland completed with simply 10 factors whereas being suffering from foul bother. He was taking part in his first sport since April 23, having recovered from a toe damage.
“[We were] down 2-0,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson stated. “It’s sort of now or by no means. You’re banged up and also you’re hurting … They needed to take a look at it right this moment. They confirmed numerous fortitude. We’ve got at some point of restoration right here, so it’s a fast turnaround, they usually can flip it round and be able to go.”
Cleveland held a decisive 56-37 edge in rebounds, together with an 18-4 benefit on the offensive finish.
Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin scored 23 factors off the bench, and Pascal Siakam added 18.
Star Tyrese Haliburton was restricted to only 4 factors on 2-of-8 taking pictures for the fourth-seeded Pacers.
Cleveland will attempt to degree the collection when the Pacers host Sport 4 on Sunday.
