On Monday night, the Denver Nuggets made a bold statement about their championship ambitions with a thrilling performance in Game 1 of the second-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The win was a full team effort, with key contributions from seasoned stars like Nikola Jokic and several bench players.
During the intense matchup at Paycom Center, the crowd attempted to rattle Jokic with loud “Free Throw Merchant” chants. When asked about the noise after the game, Jokic brushed off the heckling with his usual calm attitude.
“To be honest, I didn’t hear that. But that’s kinda funny,” he said in the postgame press conference.
Jokic on the free throw merchant chants:
"To be honest, I didn't hear that. But that's kinda funny" pic.twitter.com/uXRoWXoKL6
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) May 6, 2025
As the game neared its end, Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren had a critical moment at the line but missed both free throws with just eight seconds remaining. That miss set the stage for Denver’s Aaron Gordon, who knocked down a clutch three-pointer to secure a 121-119 victory and snatch Game 1 from the Thunder.
Before Gordon’s game-winning shot, Nikola Jokic had already delivered a historic performance. He finished with 42 points, 22 rebounds, and six assists. With that stat line, Jokic joined Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shaquille O’Neal, and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to record a 40-20-5 game in the playoffs.
Nikola Jokic Praises Aaron Gordon For His Game-Winning Shot
Following the Nuggets’ dramatic Game 1 victory over the Thunder, Nikola Jokic made sure to highlight Aaron Gordon’s game-winning heroics. In the postgame press conference, the Serbian star acknowledged the importance of Gordon’s clutch three-pointer in the final seconds.
“He made a really big shot for us, you know, and he deserves it. He’s the soul of the team. He’s a glue guy. He probably doesn’t give much respect that he deserves, but I think he doesn’t need attention, so he knows what he’s doing, so I’m happy for him,” Jokic said.
This wasn’t Gordon’s first time stepping up in a high-pressure playoff moment this year. In the first round, he had already delivered a game-winning dunk in Game 4 against the Los Angeles Clippers. Monday night’s buzzer-beating three marked the second time Gordon came to the Nuggets’ rescue.
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