Denver forces Game 7 against OKC, Ousmane Dieng plays in garbage time
The series between the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder will have its decisive game this Sunday. Led by a sick but heroic Jamal Murray, the 2023 champions defeated OKC 119-107 in Game 6 at Ball Arena. A must-win victory for Ousmane Dieng’s teammates, who forced a decisive Game 7.
Murray and Jokic overcome OKC, Dieng plays late
Listed as questionable, Jamal Murray (6’3″, 28 years old) never really considered not playing. « Absolutely not, » he dismissed after the game. Scoring 25 points, he struck early with a 4-point play and a step-back 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter.
Nikola Jokic (6’11 », 30 years old), dominant as ever, finished with 29 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists. But the real surprise came from Julian Strawther (6’7″, 23 years old). The sophomore scored 15 points in the second half, his playoff career-high, with crucial shots that definitively knocked out the Thunder. « Julian was huge for us, he hit big shots. I doubt they had prepared anything against him, » Aaron Gordon acknowledged.
THE JULIAN STRAWTHER GAME 😤
🔥 15 PTS
🔥 3-4 3-PT FG
🔥 Helps force Game 7 pic.twitter.com/CKT8ye21cH— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 16, 2025
For the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did his part with 32 points. But his lieutenants didn’t follow through, particularly Jalen Williams (6 points on 3/16 shooting). Ousmane Dieng stepped on the court in the final minute for symbolic playing time, with the outcome already decided.
An electric Game 7 ahead
The Thunder have only lost consecutive games twice this season. However, Sunday will be the first time this young team plays in a do-or-die playoff game. The winner will face Minnesota, who qualified in five games against Golden State.
« Denver landed a big punch tonight. Both teams are trading blows in this series and we’ll need to bounce back Sunday, » analyzed Mark Daigneault, OKC’s coach.
The Nuggets will have two days off to recover after an exhausting series. « The guys were almost happier about having a day off than forcing a Game 7, » smiled David Adelman, Denver’s interim coach.
LES NUGGETS L’EMPORTENT À LA MAISON ET S’OFFRENT UN MATCH 7 ‼️
Jokić :
📏 29 PTS
📏 14 REB
📏 8 ASTMurray :
🏹 25 PTS
🏹 8 REB
🏹 7 AST
pic.twitter.com/GG7VoAWhcN— NBA France (@NBAFRANCE) May 16, 2025
Commentaires