Simply when everybody was anticipating an exhilarating Recreation 7, the Thunder ended the final three minutes of the primary half with an 18-5 run and by no means appeared again, finally blowing out the Nuggets 125-93.
OKC put Alex Caruso on future Corridor of Famer Nikola Jokic, and their aggressive protection paid off brilliantly as Denver dedicated 20 turnovers. An injured Aaron Gordon did all that he may with eight factors and 11 rebounds, whereas Jamal Murray went 1-of-8 from the three-point line and completed with simply 13 factors.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 35 factors, and Jalen Williams bounced again from a disappointing Recreation 6 with 24.
Right here’s how NBA Twitter reacted to OKC’s victory.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drops 35 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK as THE THUNDER ELIMINATE THE NUGGETS & ADVANCE TO THE WCF
pic.twitter.com/ySudmYPXuE
— Basketball Endlessly (@bballforever_) May 18, 2025
SGA POWERS OKC TO WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS!!!!
35 factors
Recreation 1 vs. MIN: Tuesday at 8:30pm/et on ESPN
pic.twitter.com/7E3wJp17cE
— NBA (@NBA) May 18, 2025
Think about telling these two, 9 years in the past whereas they have been grinding within the G League, that they’d be heading to an NBA Western Convention Finals collectively sooner or later. pic.twitter.com/uJPQiGC8ZO
— Thunder Movie Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) May 18, 2025
Caruso turning into a Jokic stopper is one closing knife to the center for Lakers followers
— Harrison Faigen (@hmfaigen) May 18, 2025
I suppose Jamal Murray doesn’t really feel like being one of the best participant ever at the moment. That’s solely reserved for the Lakers.
— Barry (@BarryOnHere) May 18, 2025
I simply completely can’t consider the sport Jamal Murray is having. A whole non issue.
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) May 18, 2025
Time to retire the Jamal Murray “playoff riser” narrative. He’s not that man
— Patty Graham (@PattyGr29702276) May 18, 2025
Sizzling take however not..
OKC followers are louder than Knick followers.
Comfortable Sunday!— Trae Younger (@TheTraeYoung) May 18, 2025
Nikola Jokic this playoffs:
1st in factors
1st in rebounds
1st in assists
1st in steals
1st in shares
1st in double-doubles
1st in triple-doubles
1st in area targetsInsane run. pic.twitter.com/VHSdJ04Ave
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 18, 2025
The NBA could have seven totally different champions in seven seasons for the primary time in league historical past.
2019 – Raptors
2020 – Lakers
2021 – Bucks
2022 – Warriors
2023 – Nuggets
2024 – Celtics
2025 – Thunder/Timberwolves/Pacers/Knicks— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau.bsky.social) May 18, 2025 at 11:48 PM
I believe it hinges on whether or not the Wolves can maintain their dumb turnovers to a minimal. The Thunder are each actually good at forcing turnovers and creating factors off of them, so the Wolves completely can’t be as careless with the ball as they’ve been. If they’ll do this, I’d name it a coin flip.
— Rory from MN (@roryofthecross.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 12:15 AM
The more healthy workforce superior in every of the 4 convention semifinals.
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) May 18, 2025
