How Do The Denver Nuggets Keep Getting Away With This?

How Do The Denver Nuggets Keep Getting Away With This?

The Denver Nuggets fired their head coach just a month ago. Their bench has been questioned all season. They just lost game two by 43 points. And they’re facing a team that had one of the best regular seasons in NBA history. Oklahoma City, the youngest, deepest, most electric team in the league. SGA is an MVP finalist. Jaylen Williams is a star in the making. And they’ve looked unbeatable at times, but here we are. Game three, overtime. And it’s Denver, not OKC, that walks away with the win 113 to 104. They outscored the Thunder 11-2 in overtime. Jokic missed all 10 of his threes and they still won. This was not supposed to happen, but maybe that’s the point. Because if this is what the Nuggets look like in a so-called down year, what happens when they find their rhythm? Stick around. Let’s break down how the Nuggets just flip this entire series. Let’s be real. Heading into game three, this was supposed to be Oklahoma City’s series. They were the number one seed in the West. They finished the regular season with 68 wins, top five in both offense and defensive rating. They weren’t just beating teams, they were dissecting them. Shay Gilis Alexander was a legit MVP candidate, leading the league in scoring. Jaylen Williams made the leap. Cadet Homegrren was blocking everything in sight. And most importantly, they look connected. fluid ball movement, relentless defense, versatility everywhere. So, when they absolutely demolish Denver in game two by 43 points, the narrative wasn’t subtle. This series might be over. Meanwhile, Denver, a team just weeks removed from firing head coach Michael Malone. Joic was still, but the bench looked shaky. Role players were inconsistent. Michael Porter Jr. was missing in action. And after that game two beatd down, the biggest question wasn’t whether Denver could win the series. It was whether they’d even show up for game three. And it’s worth remembering, even during game three, Denver never blew the doors off. They didn’t dominate. They didn’t run off a 15 to zero run. They just stayed close. Possession after possession, they hung around long enough to give themselves a shot. And then when it mattered most, they delivered. While OKC unraveled under playoff pressure, Denver tightened up. They made every rotation, got every big rebound, hit every dagger shot, and now somehow they’re up 2 to1 in the Western Conference semi-finals against a team that was supposed to steamroll them. So yeah, the Denver Nuggets should not be doing this, but after game three, they’re not just alive, they’re in control. No one was expecting Denver to roll over in game three. Not at home, not after getting embarrassed by 43 points in game two. The expectation wasn’t that they’d quit. It was that they’d respond. But what we didn’t expect was that they’d take back the series like this. Game three wasn’t just a bounce back. It was a reality check. For everyone who thought OKC was about to take control because for most of the game, the Thunder were right there. They led at Halime. They forced Yic into one of his worst playoff shooting nights ever. 0 for 10 from three, 8 for 25 overall. They held the lead heading into the fourth. But here’s the part that matters. Denver never went away. They didn’t panic. They didn’t force shots. They just kept answering one possession at a time. And with the Nuggets down three with less than 30 seconds left, the ball swung to who else but Aaron Gordon. Wide open in the corner, he stepped into it. No hesitation. Bang. That shot tied the game at 102 and changed the momentum instantly. It didn’t just save Denver, it broke OKC’s rhythm. Overtime starts and that’s when things flipped completely. Nicole Joic opens overtime with a finger roll layup. Michael Porter Jr. knocks down a three after a cold series start. Jamal Murray steady all night finishes in transition. In 5 minutes, Denver outscored OKC 11-2. Just like that, it’s 113 to 104. And here’s the kicker. This happened without Joic being great. This happened because of the exact players people doubted. Jamal Murray with 27 points, eight assists, four steals. The engine in crunch time, Aaron Gordon, 22 points, and the biggest shot of the game, Michael Porter Jr. 21 points after shooting three for 18 combined in the first two games. Every time the Thunder leaned in, Denver pushed back harder. And on the biggest stage of the season so far, it was the role players who carried the weight. Oklahoma City, they didn’t fold, but they flinched. SGA finished with just 18 points on seven of 22 shooting. They forced shots, they missed closeouts, and when the game slowed down, they didn’t have answers. What game three really showed us is this. There’s a difference between a talented team and a playoff team. Denver played like they’d been here before because they have. OKC still learning what it takes. And now after three games, that gap matters more than any stat. The Nuggets didn’t just survive game three. They reestablish themselves. Before this series started, the biggest question wasn’t about Joic. Everyone knows what he is. A walking triple double, the most unguardable big in the league. The question was everything around him. What happens when teams load up on Joic? What happens when he’s having an off night like he did in game three? The answer, you need guys who can step up. And in game three, they did. Let’s start with Michael Porter Jr. In games 1 and two, he looked completely out of rhythm. And that shoulder injury was getting the better of him. Just three for 18 combined in OKC. But in game three, 21 points, five of eight from three, played under control. He hit big shots early to keep Denver in it and an even bigger one in overtime to stretch the lead. Next, Aaron Gordon. Everyone talks about his defense and athleticism, but Aaron Gordon has been Denver’s most important player outside of Jokic this entire playoff run. In round one against the Clippers, he had the buzzer beating dunk to close out the win. In game one of this series, he hit the game-winning shot. And in game three, with the score tied in the final minute and OKC daring him to shoot, he buried the play of the night. A clutch corner three that sent the game to overtime. He finished with 22 points and made an impact on both ends of the floor all night. And then there’s Jamal Murray. After being injured towards the end of the regular season, there were questions about how healthy he really was. Safe to say he’s just fine. Murray controlled the tempo and crunch time like a seasoned closer. 27 points, eight assists, and four steals. He didn’t just score, he directed traffic. He managed the shot clock, made reads off the pick and roll, and set the pace in overtime. While OKC was rushing shots, Murray was picking his spots. That’s the difference between playoff experience and playoff noise. But it wasn’t just the stars. Christian Brown made hustle plays, came up with blocks, and didn’t let OKC’s wings get comfortable. Pton Watson brought size and energy off the bench. Even Westbrook in a limited role today, gave real minutes and kept the ball moving. A month ago, people said Denver didn’t have depth, that the bench wasn’t ready, that they were too reliant on Jokic and Murray. Game three said otherwise. The role players didn’t just contribute, they were the Rees and Denver won. And if that continues, this version of the Nuggets, deep, balanced, and cold under pressure, is going to be a nightmare for the rest of the West. Talent gets you into the playoffs. Experience gets you through them. And if game three showed us anything, it’s that you can’t shortcut playoff maturity. Oklahoma City has had an unbelievable season. 68 wins, top five in both offense and defense. They’re young, long, and play with confidence. But in game three, when the game slowed down when the possessions got tighter, they didn’t look ready. They didn’t get bad shots, they just got rushed ones. You could see it in their body language, the second guessing, the missed rotations. SGA seven of 22 from the field. Cadet Homegrren quiet late, only two points in overtime. That’s not because they stopped being good. It’s because Denver made them uncomfortable. The Nuggets didn’t press, didn’t get desperate. They got discipline. That’s what playoff experience gives you. You don’t need a 10-point lead. You just need to survive long enough to strike. And that’s where Denver thrives. Jamal Murray controlling the pace. Joic orchestrating without scoring. Gordon and Porter Jr. making smart cuts. Closing out hard and hitting clutch shots. Every decision had a purpose. Every possession had a plan. And this is what OKC hasn’t seen yet. A playoff team that doesn’t just play hard. They play smart. Remember, this Nuggets team is championship caliber. Sure, they’ve been questioned. They fired their coach. But now, they look like a team that nobody wants to face because when the game is tight and the pressure hits, they don’t guess, they execute. OKC has the future. No one’s denying that. But Denver, they have the blueprint. And right now, that’s the difference between a 21 series lead and a wakeup call. The Nuggets didn’t just win game three, they changed the series because now it’s not about who has the higher seed, it’s about who has the momentum. And Denver has it all. They didn’t out talent OKC, they outlasted them. And that kind of win that travels. The Nuggets head into game four at home, suddenly holding the advantage. They’ve taken the lead in the series, taking the thunder out of rhythm, and maybe most importantly, they’ve reminded everyone who they still are. Let’s not forget this team won a championship two seasons ago. They’ve been in every type of playoff situation. They know what a series feels like when it shifts. And now they found that gear again. What’s even scarier? Nolaic, the best player on the planet, just shot 8 for 25 and missed all 10 of his threes and they still beat the number one seed. That’s not supposed to happen, but it did. which means OKC, as good as they’ve been, now faces real pressure for the first time these playoffs. And they’re going to have to answer the same questions Denver did. What happens when your star struggles? Can your role players step up? Can you win a close game without everything going your way? We don’t know that yet, but we do know this. Denver just reminded the league that they’re not done. Not even close. They’ve taken every story line. the coaching chaos, the game two blowout, the doubts about depth and flip them. And now they’re back in control of their own destiny. One more win at home and this series becomes theirs to lose. And the Thunder, they’re no longer the team with all the answers. Now they’re the ones being tested and whether or not they’re ready. Denver just showed us they still are. So here we are. The Denver Nuggets lead the series 2-1. A week ago, no one was quite sure where this team stood. But after game three, we’ve got a different conversation because whatever doubts surrounded Denver’s depth, focus, or composure, they answered them. And for Oklahoma City, this is the first real test of their postseason rise. The good news, they’re still in it. The bad news, now they know how hard it’s going to be. Game four is in Denver. If the Nuggets take it, they’re one win away from the conference finals. If OKC evens the series, the pressure swings right back. Either way, this series just got real. Let us know in the comments who do you think takes game four. Has Denver reclaimed their contender status? Or is this just a stumble for a young Thunder team still built to win? If you’re enjoying these deep dives into the 2025 NBA playoffs, make sure to hit like, subscribe, and turn on notifications. We’ve got a lot more coming because this series it’s far from

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The Denver Nuggets just keep finding ways to win—and it’s starting to feel unfair. In this video, we break down how the Nuggets continue to silence the doubters and pull off clutch wins in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Whether it’s Nikola Jokic’s genius-level passing, Jamal Murray’s late-game heroics, or Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr.’s timely shot-making, the Nuggets always seem to come out on top.

From close finishes to comeback wins, Denver is proving once again why they’re one of the most dangerous and resilient teams in the NBA. Jokic is putting up video game numbers, reminding everyone why he’s a perennial MVP candidate, while the supporting cast continues to thrive under pressure.

So how are they doing it? We’ll dive into the film, stats, and key playoff moments that explain why the Nuggets are built for postseason success—and why the rest of the league should be very worried.

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