Last night, the Denver Nuggets refused to let their season slip away. In a heart-pounding Game 6, they took down the Oklahoma City Thunder 119-107 at Ball Arena, tying their Western Conference semifinal series at 3-3. Jamal Murray, fighting through an illness that had him questionable right up to tip-off, played like a man possessed, dropping 25 points, snagging eight rebounds, and handing out seven assists. With a do-or-die Game 7 looming in Oklahoma City, the Nuggets’ grit has set the stage for a Sunday showdown that’s got fans on edge. Everybody chipped in for Denver, and it showed.
Nikola Jokic was his usual unstoppable self, piling up 29 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists, picking apart the Thunder’s defense with those pinpoint passes. Christian Braun, the second-year guy with endless hustle, had the crowd buzzing with 23 points and 11 rebounds. And then there’s Julian Strawther, who came off the bench and lit a fire with a 10-0 run in the third quarter, ending the night with 15 points. Those three—Jokic, Murray, and Braun—did something no Nuggets trio has done in the playoffs since ’85, each hitting at least 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Over in OKC’s corner, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander kept them in it with 32 points, but the Thunder’s offense sputtered late, shooting a rough 41% after halftime. Murray was the story everyone’s talking about. The guy could barely get out of bed, yet there he was, grinding through 42 minutes, hitting big shots, and firing up the Denver crowd. “That’s just Jamal,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said, shaking his head with a grin. “Sick or not, he’s got heart.”
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault gave credit where it was due: “Denver played harder tonight. We’ve got to bring that same fire on our floor.” This series has been a rollercoaster, pitting OKC’s young, run-and-gun style against Denver’s steady, Jokic-led attack. The Thunder, who rolled to the West’s No. 1 seed with 57 wins, had a chance to end it after taking Game 5. But Denver’s crowd, where the Nuggets are 5-1 this postseason, brought the noise, and the team fed off it, owning the paint with 52 points and battling for 15 offensive rebounds. It was the kind of effort that screams, “We’re not done yet.” You can feel the bigger picture here. Denver, champs two years ago, is all about experience, with Jokic and Murray leading the charge. OKC, with Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, is the new blood, itching to prove they’re ready.
Whoever wins Game 7 gets the Minnesota Timberwolves next, and that’s no easy out with their lockdown defense. After the game, fans lit up social media with reactions. “Murray’s a dawg,” one Denver diehard posted. “Playing through that? Respect.” Another user called Braun and Strawther “the spark we needed,” while Thunder fans weren’t shy about their frustration. “Why do we keep fading late?” one tweeted. Analysts are eating it up, too—ESPN’s Tim Legler said Denver’s depth “makes them dangerous,” but warned OKC’s home crowd could flip the script. There’s a wrinkle, though: Aaron Gordon, Denver’s glue-guy forward, tweaked his hamstring late in the game and didn’t look right. If he’s hobbled, it could hurt the Nuggets’ chances against OKC’s speedy guards. No word yet on how he’s feeling, and that’s got Denver holding its breath.
Game 7’s set for Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. EST in OKC’s Paycom Center, where the Thunder’s fans will make it feel like a warzone. The winner’s headed to the conference finals against Minnesota, with a shot at the big stage. For now, it’s all about Murray’s fire, Jokic’s brilliance, and a Nuggets team that’s got more fight left. Will they pull it off, or will OKC’s young stars steal the spotlight? One thing’s for sure—nobody’s missing this one.
