For the first time since 2016, the Oklahoma City Thunder are back in the Western Conference finals — and they did it in commanding fashion. The Thunder crushed the Denver Nuggets 125-93 in Game 7, turning what was expected to be a tight showdown into a one-sided rout in front of a roaring home crowd.
After a slow shooting start and trailing early, OKC’s suffocating defense ignited a second-quarter surge, capped by an 18-5 run that gave them a 60-46 lead at halftime. From that point on, it was all Thunder.
OKC forced 22 turnovers, including 16 steals, and outworked a tired-looking Nuggets team that had little left in the tank after a grueling series. The Thunder’s balanced attack and relentless energy overwhelmed Denver, with Alex Caruso emerging as a fan favorite — finishing with 11 points, 3 steals, and a team-best +40 plus/minus.
“All season the Thunder have been the best team in the league,” one commentator said. “Tonight, they reminded everyone why.”
Nikola Jokić gave it everything he had — 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists — while Christian Braun added 19 points. Aaron Gordon, despite a hamstring injury, bravely suited up and grabbed 11 boards. But it wasn’t enough.
“We definitely need more depth,” Jokić admitted postgame. “It seems like the teams with longer rotations are the ones winning — Indiana, OKC, Minnesota.”
Denver’s loss caps off a turbulent season that spiraled after the surprise firing of head coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth with just three games left in the regular season — a decision that left the team unsteady heading into the playoffs.
Meanwhile, OKC advances with momentum and belief, ready to battle for a place in the NBA Finals.
