By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
After a historic performance with 42 points and 22 rebounds to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 1-0 lead, Nikola Jokic’s team suffered a heavy defeat in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, blew out the Colorado team 149–106 to tie the series at 1–1.
Jokic finished the game with 17 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, but also committed six turnovers and fouled out after 32 minutes on the court. He ended the night with a career-worst plus/minus of -36.
“Basically, it was one team playing tonight. They were aggressive. They were going by us, they were rebounding the ball. They were just better—much, much better than us today—and that’s why the score is so bad,” the Serbian center said.
On the other side, Shai played with vengeance, scoring 34 points and dishing out eight assists on 11-of-13 shooting from the field. German international Isaiah Hartenstein contributed 14 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
The series now shifts to Denver for the next two games, with Game 3 scheduled for May 10th at 04:00 AM CET.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the defending champion Boston Celtics are in trouble, trailing 0–2 after the New York Knicks pulled off another win at TD Garden, edging out a 91–90 victory.
Jalen Brunson hit two go-ahead free throws with 12 seconds left, and then Mikal Bridges sealed the game by stripping the ball from Jayson Tatum in the final possession.
BRUNSON HITS TWO FREE THROWS.
BRIDGES TAKES THE BALL AWAY.
KNICKS TAKE 2-0 SERIES LEAD. pic.twitter.com/NbyRwQri9O
— NBA (@NBA) May 8, 2025
Josh Hart led the Knicks with 23 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points and 17 rebounds. Brunson finished with 17 points and seven assists.
For the Celtics, Derrick White and Jaylen Brown each scored 20 points, while Tatum had 13 points and 14 rebounds.