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NBA

Denver forces Game 7 against OKC, Ousmane Dieng plays in garbage time

NBA - Down 3-2 before the game, the Denver Nuggets tied the series 3-3 in the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Ousmane Dieng entered the game for OKC during meaningless garbage time.
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Denver forces Game 7 against OKC, Ousmane Dieng plays in garbage time
Photo Credit : NBA League pass

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.

– 2nd round

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.

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.

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Image Gabriel Pantel-Jouve
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve is the founder and editor-in-chief of BeBasket, which he has been running since 2010 (formerly known as Catch & Shoot). Having studied at the École Publique de Journalisme de Tours and two universities in North America, he has developed his expertise in French basketball, from the National League to amateur divisions, over the past 20 years. Alongside this, he is also involved in the development of clubs in the Montpellier area.
Denver forces Game 7 against OKC, Ousmane Dieng plays in garbage time