In a stunning turn of events that had basketball fans picking their jaws up off the floor, the defending NBA champions Denver Nuggets didn’t just lose Game 7 – they got absolutely demolished. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s 125-93 beatdown felt less like a playoff game and more like a changing of the guard in the Western Conference.
What makes this collapse even more fascinating is the perfect storm that led to it: a midseason coaching carousel, a hobbled Aaron Gordon, and a supporting cast that picked the worst possible moment to go ice cold. The Nuggets’ dream of back-to-back titles evaporated faster than a Denver snowfall in spring.
Game Overview and Context
The Oklahoma City Thunder crushed the Denver Nuggets 125-93 in a decisive Game 7 matchup at the Paycom Center. While the Nuggets started strong with a 26-21 first-quarter lead, their hopes of advancing quickly faded as the Thunder took control in the second quarter, outscoring Denver 39-20.
The defending NBA champions couldn’t keep up with OKC’s offensive onslaught, shooting a dismal 39.3% from the field and an even worse 22.2% from three-point range. The Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 35-point performance, simply outclassed their opponents in every aspect of the game.
Despite Nikola Jokiฤ’s effort and Aaron Gordon playing through a grade 2 hamstring strain, the Nuggets turned the ball over 22 times and never found their rhythm. By the third quarter, with the Thunder leading 97-72, the outcome was all but sealed.
Key Players and Performances
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put on a show, dropping 35 points while adding 3 steals and 4 assists. His scoring outburst set the tone for OKC’s dominant win. Jalen Williams backed him up with 24 points and 7 assists, showing why the Thunder’s young core is so dangerous.
On the Nuggets’ side, Nikola Jokiฤ posted 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists – solid numbers that still fell short of his usual triple-double standards. Christian Braun stepped up with 19 points, but it wasn’t enough to make up for the team’s offensive struggles.
Aaron Gordon fought through his hamstring injury to grab 11 rebounds, but managed just 8 points in his 25 minutes on the floor. The lack of consistent scoring beyond Jokiฤ proved costly for Denver, as they couldn’t keep pace with OKC’s high-powered offense.
Decisive Moments in Game 7
The game’s turning point came early in the second quarter when the Thunder flipped a 5-point deficit into a commanding lead. Their defense tightened up, forcing the Nuggets into tough shots and creating fast break opportunities. The result? A crushing 39-20 run that left Denver reeling.
OKC’s defensive pressure proved too much for the Nuggets, who coughed up the ball 22 times. The Thunder took full advantage, converting those turnovers into easy baskets. A key sequence saw Cason Wallace throw down a momentum-shifting dunk over Jokiฤ, pushing the lead to 78-57 and sending the Paycom Center crowd into a frenzy.
The Thunder’s dominance continued after halftime with a 9-0 burst that effectively ended any hopes of a Nuggets comeback. Their suffocating defense held the Nuggets to just 22% shooting from beyond the arc, while their own offense kept rolling with crisp ball movement and smart shot selection.
Coaching and Strategy
The Nuggets’ tumultuous season came to a fitting end, with interim coach David Adelman waving the white flag early in the fourth quarter by pulling his starters. The midseason coaching shakeup – with both the head coach and GM getting fired just weeks before playoffs – left Denver scrambling to find their identity at the worst possible time.
Meanwhile, the Thunder’s game plan worked to perfection. They ramped up defensive pressure on Jokiฤ, forcing other Nuggets players to create shots. When Denver’s role players couldn’t deliver, the game quickly spiraled out of control. The Thunder’s young squad showed remarkable poise, turning defense into offense with 16 steals that led to easy transition buckets.
The weight of being defending champions seemed to crush Denver in the biggest moment. Their offense looked disjointed and hesitant, a far cry from the well-oiled machine that won them a title. With no answers for OKC’s aggressive defensive schemes, the Nuggets’ season ended with a whimper rather than a roar.
Final pic.twitter.com/Cyiysm80Wu
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) May 18, 2025
Nuggets’ Roster and Limitations
The Nuggets’ playoff exit laid bare their roster weaknesses, especially beyond their star players. While Jokiฤ put up his usual numbers and Murray tried to power through illness, the supporting cast fell short when it mattered most.
The team’s bench production was nearly non-existent in Game 7, leaving too much weight on the starters’ shoulders. Christian Braun’s 19-point showing stood as a rare bright spot, but the lack of consistent scoring options haunted Denver throughout the series.
Denver’s front office faces tough decisions heading into the off-season. With both their head coach and GM positions needing permanent solutions, rebuilding a deeper roster becomes priority number one. The team desperately needs reliable shooters and defensive specialists to complement Jokiฤ’s playmaking abilities.
The Nuggets out of playoffs showed that even the most talented stars need proper support. Their 22 turnovers and poor three-point shooting (22.2%) in Game 7 highlighted how thin their margin for error had become.
Future Implications and Offseason Outlook
The Nuggets’ front office has their work cut out for them after this playoff collapse. Their title defense ended with glaring holes in the roster that need fixing – particularly shooting and defensive depth. With both coaching and GM positions up in the air, the organization must act fast to put the right leadership in place.
For Denver to bounce back, they’ll need to surround Jokiฤ with more reliable shooters and defenders. Their poor three-point shooting and turnover issues in Game 7 showed exactly where improvements are needed. The team might look to move some pieces around, especially given their bench’s underwhelming playoff performance.
Meanwhile, the Thunder’s future looks bright as they head to the Western Conference Finals. Their young core, led by SGA and Jalen Williams, proved they can handle the pressure of big moments. This playoff run positions them as serious contenders for years to come.
The End of a Dynasty That Never Was
Just months after hoisting their first NBA championship trophy, the Denver Nuggets find themselves facing an identity crisis. The pieces that clicked so perfectly during their title run suddenly look mismatched, like a puzzle forced together with the wrong pieces. This wasn’t just a playoff exit – it was a wake-up call echoing through the Rocky Mountains.
The Thunder didn’t just beat the defending champs; they exposed every crack in Denver’s foundation. As the Nuggets head into a summer of uncertainty, with coaching and front office positions to fill, one thing’s crystal clear: the path back to the Finals just got a whole lot steeper.
