Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Denver Nuggets again; take a 3-0 lead
Playing at the Pepsi Center, the Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC) squeaked out a 97-94 win over the depleted Denver Nuggets and secured a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
On Saturday night, each and every second seemed crucial as the game took its final breaths. The home crowd cheered on as J.R. Smith clinched a three-pointer to bring scores as close as 91-95 with 23.2 seconds remaining. Another three-pointer by Smith and Oklahoma could feel the earth slipping under their feet, 94-95.
Fate however had decided something else as Serge Ibaka posterized the Nuggets with a jam, making it a three point game at 97-94. With 2.7 seconds left in game, James Harden crucially blocked a long range shot, handing over the Bronchos their third straight loss of the series on the way.
Three of the five OKC starters posted more than 20 points as the Thunder dominated the Nuggets. Kevin Durant led the winning squad with game high 26 points and dished out six assists. The NBA All-Star also blocked three shots in 43 minutes of action.
Point guard Russell Westbrook followed with 23 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out eight assists. The All-Star second year guard clinched 11-of-13 free throws and went 6-for-15 from the field. Ibaka gave an awesome performance as well, contributing with 22 points and game high 16 caroms in 39 minutes.
Arron Afflalo scored nine points in the first quarter as the Nuggets took an initial lead over the OKC, 31-26 at the end of first quarter. A streak however started from the other end when Daequan Cook posted a three-pointer and Durant followed by striking another shot from the long range on the next possession. Durant followed it with a reverse layup that helped OKC tie the scores at 36-all.
Another three-pointer minutes later, helped Oklahoma City gain a 41-39 advantage. It was followed with another 11-2 run that made it 54-45 in Thunder’s favour. The Nuggets managed to break free of the slump late in the fourth quarter, but they missed a three-pointer before the shot clock expired.
Nene Hilario led the Denver Nuggets by contributing 15 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. The Nuggets’ centre shot 5-of-10 both from the field as well as the free throw line. Smith scooped out 15 points, grabbed six rebounds and also notched 4-of-9 three-pointers. Two of his four three-pointers came in the final 23.3 seconds of the game and added energy to the game.
The OKC next hosts the Nuggets on Monday, 25th April at Pepsi Center.
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