OKC Thunder vs Denver Nuggets Match Player Stats (May 18, 2025)

The Oklahoma City Thunder crushed the Denver Nuggets 125-93 in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals on May 18, 2025, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander erupting for 35 points and Jalen Williams adding 24 points to send the top-seeded Thunder to the Conference Finals. The blowout victory at Paycom Center eliminated the defending champions and showcased why the Thunder finished the regular season with a historic 68-14 record.

Game 7 Final Score and Series Recap

The Thunder dominated from start to finish, turning a competitive series into a statement win when it mattered most. After the teams traded blows through six games, Oklahoma City delivered a performance that left no doubt about who deserved to advance. The 32-point margin was the largest Game 7 victory in the second round since 2009.

Series Score: OKC wins 4-3
Game 7 Score: Thunder 125, Nuggets 93
Location: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City
Broadcast: ABC

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

Quarter	Nuggets	Thunder
1st	26	21
2nd	20	39
3rd	26	37
4th	21	28
Final	93	125

Denver actually led after the first quarter, 26-21, thanks to early contributions from Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon. But the Thunder’s defensive adjustments sparked a game-changing 14-2 run before halftime. By the break, Oklahoma City held a commanding 60-46 advantage, and the Nuggets never recovered.

Oklahoma City Thunder Player Stats

The Thunder’s victory was a true team effort, but their superstar guard put on a clinic in the biggest game of the season.

Thunder Starters Performance

Player	MIN	PTS	FG	3PT	FT	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	+/-
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	36	35	12-19	3-4	8-9	3	4	3	1	0	+32
Jalen Williams	33	24	10-17	2-5	2-3	5	7	1	0	1	+35
Chet Holmgren	28	13	4-9	0-3	5-6	11	1	1	1	2	+34
Isaiah Hartenstein	17	10	5-7	0-0	0-0	7	1	0	0	0	-7
Luguentz Dort	17	6	2-7	1-5	1-2	5	2	2	0	2	+3

Thunder Bench Production

Player	MIN	PTS	FG	3PT	FT	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	+/-
Alex Caruso	26	11	5-7	1-3	0-0	0	3	3	0	0	+40
Cason Wallace	29	7	3-10	1-6	0-0	3	5	2	0	1	+38
Aaron Wiggins	19	8	3-11	2-8	0-0	4	3	2	1	0	+19
Isaiah Joe	4	5	1-1	1-1	2-2	0	1	1	0	0	+4
Ajay Mitchell	8	5	2-2	1-1	0-0	1	0	0	0	1	-6

Team Totals: 47-96 FG (49%), 12-39 3PT (31%), 19-24 FT (79%)
Total Rebounds: 44 (15 offensive, 29 defensive)
Total Assists: 28
Total Steals: 16
Total Turnovers: 9

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Historic Performance

The MVP candidate delivered when the stakes were highest. His 35 points came on an efficient 12-of-19 shooting, and remarkably, he committed zero turnovers while leading his team in a winner-take-all situation. According to Real Sports, this performance gave SGA the fifth-most playoff games ever with 35+ points and zero turnovers, joining an elite group with Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kevin Durant.

After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander opened up about his mental state. “I was nervous, to be honest,” he told NBA TV. “Just knowing what’s on the line… To know if you don’t bring your A game, it could all be over with, and all for nothing. I think that nervousness motivated me.”

The 26-year-old guard led the league in scoring during the regular season with 32.7 points per game, and he proved those numbers weren’t empty calories. His three steals and defensive presence on Jamal Murray helped turn the tide in the second quarter.

Supporting Cast Steps Up

Jalen Williams was magnificent as the secondary scorer, finishing with 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting. His seven assists showed his playmaking ability, and his +35 plus-minus was the highest among starters. Williams’ ability to attack closeouts and finish at the rim gave Oklahoma City another dimension beyond Gilgeous-Alexander’s brilliance.

Chet Holmgren provided the defensive anchor with 11 rebounds and solid rim protection. His five free throws kept the Nuggets honest in the paint, even as Denver tried to pack the defense to slow down OKC’s guards.

Alex Caruso off the bench was a revelation, posting an absurd +40 rating in just 26 minutes. His three steals and pesky defense on Murray disrupted Denver’s offensive rhythm. Caruso’s impact without scoring big numbers perfectly encapsulated the Thunder’s team-first mentality.

Denver Nuggets Player Stats

The Nuggets fought hard but couldn’t overcome Oklahoma City’s suffocating defense and hot shooting in the critical second and third quarters.

Nuggets Starters Performance

Player	MIN	PTS	FG	3PT	FT	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	+/-
Nikola Jokic	37	20	5-9	1-2	9-11	9	7	0	0	5	-23
Christian Braun	33	19	7-14	2-8	3-4	4	3	1	0	2	-28
Jamal Murray	35	13	6-16	1-8	0-0	1	2	3	1	2	-21
Aaron Gordon	25	8	2-4	1-3	3-3	11	0	0	0	4	-9
Michael Porter Jr.	23	6	3-8	0-4	0-0	3	1	1	0	0	-8

Nuggets Bench Production

Player	MIN	PTS	FG	3PT	FT	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	+/-
Russell Westbrook	22	6	2-7	2-5	0-0	5	2	0	0	4	-34
Julian Strawther	18	6	3-8	0-2	0-0	3	0	1	0	3	-10
Jalen Pickett	10	6	2-5	2-5	0-0	2	2	0	0	0	0
Hunter Tyson	10	5	2-3	1-2	0-0	3	1	0	0	0	0
Peyton Watson	20	4	1-8	0-3	2-4	4	2	0	1	2	-27

Team Totals: 33-84 FG (39%), 10-44 3PT (23%), 17-22 FT (77%)
Total Rebounds: 47 (15 offensive, 32 defensive)
Total Assists: 20
Total Steals: 6
Total Turnovers: 22

Nikola Jokic’s Uncharacteristic Struggles

The three-time MVP had one of his quietest playoff performances when his team needed him most. Jokic took just nine field goal attempts, tied for the fewest in any playoff game of his career. While he finished with 20 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, the stat line doesn’t tell the story of how thoroughly the Thunder’s defense neutralized him.

Oklahoma City deployed physical double teams and forced the ball out of Jokic’s hands. His five turnovers were a rare blemish on an otherwise brilliant playoff run where he led the league in points, rebounds, assists, and steals through the first two rounds.

When asked about the team’s championship window after the loss, Jokic was brutally honest. “We didn’t, so obviously, we can’t,” he said when questioned if the roster could still win a title. “If we could, we would win it. We didn’t win it, so we can’t.”

Before the series concluded, Jokic had kept his Game 7 preparation simple. “Defense. Details. Box out. Turnovers. That will probably decide winner,” he told reporters after Game 6. Unfortunately for Denver, those exact areas became their downfall, as they committed 22 turnovers and got out-rebounded in critical stretches.

As for his offseason plans? Jokic kept it real. “The next couple of days is gonna be a lot of beer probably,” he said with his trademark dry humor.

Supporting Cast Can’t Match Thunder’s Depth

Christian Braun led the Nuggets in scoring with 19 points and brought energy on both ends, but Denver’s lack of consistent secondary scoring proved fatal. Jamal Murray struggled mightily, shooting just 1-of-8 from three-point range and never finding his rhythm against the Thunder’s aggressive perimeter defense.

Aaron Gordon, who heroically played through a Grade 2 hamstring strain, contributed 11 rebounds but scored only eight points. His limited mobility showed on both ends, and the Thunder attacked him relentlessly in pick-and-roll situations.

Russell Westbrook’s return to Oklahoma City was bittersweet. The former Thunder legend posted a team-worst -34 plus-minus with four turnovers in 22 minutes. His struggles encapsulated Denver’s bench issues throughout the series.

Key Statistical Comparisons

Shooting Efficiency

The Thunder’s superior shooting made the difference:

Category	Thunder	Nuggets
Field Goal %	49%	39%
Three-Point %	31%	23%
Free Throw %	79%	77%
Effective FG%	55.2%	45.2%

Oklahoma City’s ability to generate quality looks and convert at a 10-percentage-point higher clip than Denver proved insurmountable.

Turnovers Tell the Story

The most glaring difference came in ball security:

Thunder: 9 turnovers
Nuggets: 22 turnovers

Denver’s 22 giveaways led to 28 Thunder points, effectively ending any chance of a comeback. The Thunder’s swarming defense forced bad passes and disrupted Denver’s offensive flow, particularly in the decisive second quarter.

Bench Impact

Team	Bench Points	Bench +/-
Thunder	42	+95 combined
Nuggets	27	-71 combined

The Thunder’s depth was overwhelming. While Denver relied heavily on their starters playing big minutes, Oklahoma City got legitimate production from their second unit. Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, and Aaron Wiggins combined for 26 points with eight steals and a staggering +97 combined plus-minus.

Pace and Possessions

The Thunder dominated the tempo battle, forcing Denver into uncomfortable situations:

Pace: OKC 102.3 possessions vs DEN 98.7
Fast Break Points: OKC 18 vs DEN 8
Points in the Paint: OKC 56 vs DEN 36

Oklahoma City’s transition defense and ability to get out in the open court after defensive rebounds gave them easy baskets and deflated Denver’s spirits.

Game Flow and Turning Points

First Quarter: Nuggets Start Strong

Denver came out aggressive, with Christian Braun quickly scoring nine points and Aaron Gordon grabbing five early rebounds. The Nuggets built a double-digit lead before the Thunder’s defensive adjustments kicked in. OKC cut the deficit to 26-21 by quarter’s end through improved ball pressure and transition opportunities.

Second Quarter: Thunder Take Control

This quarter decided the game. Oklahoma City’s defense forced a flurry of turnovers that sparked a 14-2 run right before halftime. The Thunder outscored Denver 39-20 in the period, turning a five-point deficit into a 60-46 halftime lead. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 14 points in the quarter on efficient shooting, while the Nuggets shot just 35% from the field.

Third Quarter: Blowout Territory

Any hopes of a Denver comeback evaporated in the third. Gilgeous-Alexander’s step-back three extended the lead to 23 points, and the Thunder’s lead hovered around that mark for the rest of the quarter. The home crowd sensed victory, and the energy at Paycom Center reached playoff fever pitch. Oklahoma City outscored Denver 37-26 in the third, pushing the advantage to 97-72 heading into the final frame.

Fourth Quarter: Garbage Time

With the game decided, both teams emptied their benches. The Thunder’s reserves maintained the margin of victory, and the Nuggets’ season officially ended at 3:30 PM local time when the final buzzer sounded. Oklahoma City won the quarter 28-21, putting an exclamation point on their dominant performance.

Defense Wins Championships

The Thunder’s defensive performance was suffocating. According to advanced metrics, OKC held Denver to just 0.89 points per possession, well below their season average of 1.18. The game plan focused on three key elements:

1. Neutralize Jokic: Double-teams in the post and aggressive help defense forced the ball out of his hands. When Jokic did get opportunities, Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren’s length disrupted his passing lanes.

2. Pressure Murray: Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace took turns hounding Murray on every possession. The result was 1-of-8 shooting from deep and constant rushed decisions.

3. Switch Everything: The Thunder’s versatile defenders switched nearly every screen, eliminating Denver’s favorite actions and forcing isolation plays where OKC’s athletes thrived.

Head coach Mark Daigneault deserves credit for the adjustments. After Denver won Game 6, he simplified the game plan and trusted his team’s superior athleticism and length to win individual battles.

Historical Context

This victory sent Oklahoma City to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2016, when they fell to the Golden State Warriors. The franchise hasn’t reached the NBA Finals since 2012, when they had a young core of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden.

For Denver, it marked the second consecutive year of second-round elimination. After winning the 2023 championship, the Nuggets lost to Minnesota in seven games during the 2024 playoffs and now suffered an even more decisive defeat against OKC. Questions immediately swirled about the future of their championship core.

The 32-point margin matched the largest Game 7 victory in conference semifinal history, joining the 2009 Cleveland Cavaliers’ 39-point demolition of Atlanta.

Playoff Series Stats Leaders

Thunder Series Averages

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 29.7 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.6 SPG (52.9 FG%)
Jalen Williams: 21.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 6.2 APG
Chet Holmgren: 14.7 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.1 BPG

Nuggets Series Averages

Nikola Jokic: 28.4 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 9.3 APG, 2.1 SPG
Jamal Murray: 22.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 6.1 APG
Christian Braun: 18.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG

What’s Next

The Thunder advanced to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals, with Game 1 scheduled for Tuesday, May 20 at 8:30 PM ET on ESPN. Oklahoma City’s quest for their first championship since relocating from Seattle continued with momentum and confidence.

Meanwhile, Denver faced an uncertain offseason. With questions about roster construction, depth issues exposed, and the championship window potentially closing, the Nuggets’ front office had significant decisions ahead.

Expert Analysis and Takeaways

The okc thunder vs denver nuggets match player stats reveal a dominant performance by the Western Conference’s top seed when everything was on the line. Several key factors separated the teams:

Thunder’s Depth Advantage: The difference in bench production (42-27) and the combined +95 from reserves showcased Oklahoma City’s organizational strength. While Denver leaned heavily on Jokic and Murray, the Thunder had multiple players ready to contribute at a high level.

Defensive Versatility: OKC’s ability to deploy multiple defensive schemes and personnel groupings kept Denver guessing. The switching defense eliminated clean looks, and the pressure defense created 22 turnovers that translated to easy baskets in transition.

Star Power in Big Moments: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander proved he belongs in the conversation with the league’s elite. His ability to score efficiently (63.2% true shooting percentage) while facilitating and playing lockdown defense showed complete mastery of the game.

Experience vs. Youth: Despite Denver’s championship pedigree from 2023, the Thunder’s young core showed no fear on the biggest stage. Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Cason Wallace all made crucial plays that belied their playoff inexperience.

The most impressive aspect of Oklahoma City’s victory was their adjustment after dropping Game 6 in Denver. Rather than panicking, they stuck to their identity and executed at a higher level than their opponent when it mattered most.

Guard Alex Caruso summed up the team’s confidence in their leader. “I don’t think he has any lack of confidence in himself,” Caruso told The Athletic about Gilgeous-Alexander. “That was there long before I got here. He expects excellence, and we expect it out of him, too. He’s the head of this thing for us.”

For those seeking comprehensive playoff coverage and detailed statistics from throughout the NBA postseason, Match vs Player Stats provides in-depth analysis and historical comparisons.

The Thunder’s systematic dismantling of the defending conference finalists sent shockwaves through the league. With their combination of elite perimeter scoring, defensive versatility, and depth, Oklahoma City established themselves as legitimate title contenders. The question shifted from whether they could win in the playoffs to whether anyone could stop them.

Final Thoughts on the OKC Thunder vs Denver Nuggets Match Player Stats

The numbers don’t lie. Oklahoma City’s 125-93 victory was comprehensive, decisive, and earned. The okc thunder vs denver nuggets match player stats show a team peaking at the perfect moment against a wounded champion that couldn’t summon one final magical performance.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 35-point masterpiece, Jalen Williams’ clutch secondary scoring, and the suffocating team defense all combined to create one of the most dominant Game 7 performances in recent playoff memory. Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic’s 20 points on limited shot attempts and Denver’s 22 turnovers sealed their fate.

As the confetti fell at Paycom Center and the Thunder celebrated their advancement, one reality became crystal clear: Oklahoma City’s time had arrived. The question now was whether they could finish the job and bring home the franchise’s first championship since 1979.

For the latest NBA playoff stats, game recaps, and player performance analysis, visit ESPN’s NBA section and NBA.com for official league coverage.