Perhaps it’s only fitting for the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets to go the distance in their NBA playoff series.
Jamal Murray played through an illness to score 25 points as the Nuggets beat the Thunder 119-107 Thursday night in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals at Ball Arena in Denver.
Game 7 is set for 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Paycom Center.
Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic scored 29 points on 9-for-14 shooting for the Nuggets, which flipped the script from Game 5 by using a late flurry in the first half and just riding the momentum from there.
Second-year guard Julian Strawther had his breakout game of the series for Denver, scoring 15 points with three 3-pointers.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 32 points to lead the Thunder.
Chet Holmgren added 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Jalen Williams finished with 10 assists but just six points on 3-for-16 shooting.
Thunder vs Nuggets live score updates in Game 6 of NBA Playoffs
The Julian Strawther quarter.
The Nuggets reserve scored eight points in the final two minutes of the third quarter, giving Denver all kinds of momentum heading into the fourth.
Denver outscored OKC 32-21 in the third and will take a 90-82 lead into the fourth.
Jamal Murray leads the Nuggets with 22 points.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a game-high 24 points on 7-of-11 shooting. He’s only played 24 minutes though, dealing with foul trouble from the first half.
—Joe Mussatto, Columnist
The first possession of the second quarter looked for a bit like it might be a game-changing or even a series-altering one.
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander navigating on the baseline, Russell Westbrook took a swipe at the ball. The Nugget reserve hit SGA’s right hand, and the Thunder superstar immediately started shaking his hand. He passed the ball and looked to be in fairly intense pain.
He continued holding his hand and shaking it occasionally over the next few minutes.
But he did not leave the game due to the injury.
Gilgeous-Alexander, however, did seem affected by it. He missed a jumper and immediately grabbed at his shooting hand. He also missed the first of two free throws, but then the next time down the floor, he hit a jumper from the right wing.
When he returned to the floor after resting the middle part of the quarter, SGA did not have any additional tape on his hand or his wrist.
He finished the first half with a team-high 14 points, but maybe more importantly, SGA picked up his fourth foul with 1:29 left in the half. After he went to the bench, Denver finished the half on a 9-3 run.
Chet Holmgren had 11 points and Cason Wallace had 10 for OKC while Christian Braun had a game-high 15 points for Denver.
—Jenni Carlson, Columnist
Just talking.
Denver’s biggest concern entering a must-win Game 6 was the health of Jamal Murray.
The 28-year-old guard was a late addition to the injury report Thursday. He was listed as questionable due to an illness.
But Murray ultimately suited up, and he didn’t waste any time getting into a rhythm. He put Denver on the scoreboard at the 10:41 mark by drilling an and-one 3-pointer, and he sank the ensuing free throw.
Murray recorded 11 points and two assists in the first quarter to help the Nuggets claim early control. Lu Dort, Cason Wallace and Jaylin Williams scored five points apiece for the Thunder.
—Justin Martinez, Staff writer
OKC is late to a lot of stuff on defense right now. Trying to recover, and Denver is just using ball fakes to score.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (illness) is available for Game 6 Thursday night against the Thunder.
Over the course of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s second-round series, Mark Daigneault has let the game tell him who to substitute.Early on it was Jaylin Williams, whose sturdy frame has collided with Nikola Jokic. In Game 4, it was Cason Wallace, who outplayed Lu Dort. In Game 5, Daigneault turned back to Dort. But how has he decided who he’ll turn to?“I trust all those guys,” Daigneault said. “I want all them to touch the floor and give them all an opportunity to impact the game because I’ve seen them impact so many games so well. You don’t wanna restrict their ability to do that.”
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Nuggets guard Jamal Murray was a surprise addition to the injury list Thursday, listed as questionable with an illness.
“I found out this morning,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said in his pregame availability before Game 6. “I’m not a doctor … But he is definitely sick. Questionable up until the tip.”
Denver is already thin as it is. Adelman has stuck with a seven-man rotation. If Murray can’t go, Russell Westbrook is the obvious candidate to slide into the starting lineup.
Happy birthday to Adelman, by the way. He turned 44 on Thursday.
—Joe Mussatto, Columnist
The OKC Thunder is looking to close out its second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets.
OKC holds a 3-2 lead entering Game 6 at 7:30 p.m. CT Thursday in Denver. And as the Nuggets fight to keep their season alive, they might be missing a key contributor in Jamal Murray.
The 28-year-old guard is now listed as questionable for Thursday’s contest due to an illness. It’s the first time he has appeared on the injury report this series.
—Justin Martinez, Staff writer
- Games: 76
- Points: 32.7 per game
- Rebounds: 5.0 per game
- Assists: 6.4 per game
- Steals: 1.7 per game
- Blocks: 1.0 per game
- Field-goal shooting: 51.9%
- 3-point shooting: 37.5%
- Free-throw shooting: 89.8%
- Date: Thursday, May 15
- Time: 7:30 p.m. CT
- Where: Ball Arena in Denver
The OKC vs Denver game starts at 7:30 p.m. CT Thursday from Ball Arena in Denver.
Where to watch Thunder vs Nuggets tonight in NBA Playoffs?
- TV: ESPN
- How to watch online: Fubo (free trial)
- Radio: WWLS 98.1 FM
The Thunder vs Nuggets game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Thunder vs. Nuggets playoff schedule
All times are Central Time (CT)
Thunder vs. Nuggets betting odds
Odds via BetMGM as of Thursday, May 15
Odds: Thunder by 4.5
Over/under: 216.5
Moneyline: OKC -200 | Denver +165
Thunder vs. Nuggets prediction, picks
Justin Martinez: Denver 117, OKC 114
Denver has failed to close out consecutive close games, but I expect its championship experience to shine at home in Game 6 with its season on the line. Nikola Jokic is entering the contest with momentum after struggling earlier in the series. And while a trio of fourth-quarter 3-pointers by Lu Dort helped OKC escape with a Game 5 home win, the team is only shooting 26.2% from deep on the road these playoffs. This series feels like it’s destined to go the distance. I’m picking Denver to win and send it back to Oklahoma City for a Game 7.
Thunder vs. Nuggets injury updates
Thunder: Nikola Topic (left knee surgery) is out.
Nuggets: DaRon Holmes II (right Achilles tendon repair) is out. Jamal Murray (illness) is questionable. Hunter Tyson (right ankle sprain) is out.
Thunder vs. Nuggets highlights in Game 6 of Western Conference semifinals
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