The Denver Nuggets made a powerful statement Monday night, snatching a 121-119 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder in their Western Conference semifinal opener.
The fourth-seeded Nuggets, led by an unstoppable Nikola Jokic, managed to overcome the top-seeded Thunder in what became an instant playoff classic.
Jokic continues to build on his stellar first-round performance with consistent brilliance that goes far beyond scoring.
Recent data from StatMuse reveals just how completely he’s dominating this postseason across multiple statistical categories.
“Jokic this playoffs: 2nd in points, 1st in rebounds, 1st in assists, 1st in steals, 1st in stocks. One of one,” StatMuse wrote.
Jokic this playoffs:
2nd in points
1st in rebounds
1st in assists
1st in steals
1st in stocksOne of one. pic.twitter.com/TxiRCF69FL
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 6, 2025
The three-time MVP put together a performance for the history books with 42 points, 22 rebounds, and six assists.
When the pressure mounted in the fourth quarter, Jokic answered with 18 clutch points, shooting an efficient 15 of 29 from the field and 10 of 13 from the free throw line.
While this marked his fifth 40 point playoff game, it stands apart as his first ever 40-20 playoff performance.
If Jokic maintains this level of play throughout the series, the Denver Nuggets position themselves strongly for another conference finals appearance, similar to their run two seasons ago.
Though teammates Aaron Gordon, Jamal Murray, and Russell Westbrook all contributed valuable minutes to secure the victory, Jokic remained the undeniable centerpiece.
His dominance, which began in the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers, proved essential in securing this narrow win over Oklahoma City.
With this crucial Game 1 victory, the Denver Nuggets now lead the series 1-0. They’ll aim to capitalize on this momentum in Game 2 on Wednesday before the series shifts to Denver for Game 3.
NEXT: Video Shows Nikola Jokic Celebrating After Big Win On Monday