Bold Predictions for Nuggets-Thunder Game 7 in NBA Western Conference Semifinals
DENVER — The Denver Nuggets failed to convert a 44-point effort from Nikola Jokić in Game 5, but they bounced back with a 119-107 win in Game 6 on Thursday, and they're now headed to a Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
This series has demonstrated that both OKC and Denver are legitimate title contenders. It's honestly a shame that the matchup came as early as it did.
As we await its conclusion, let's break it down with some bold predictions of what we're about to see.
Nikola Jokic Will Register a Triple-Double
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After averaging a triple-double in the regular season and first round against the Los Angeles Clippers, Nikola Jokić has failed to post a single one against the stifling OKC defense.
Prior to his 29-point, 14-rebound, 8-assist performance on Thursday, he really hadn't come close. But that's had as much to do with Jokić's finishers as it has the big man himself.
In Game 5, he totaled 20 potential assists (meaning a pass that led to a shot), but only five of those shots went down.
Expect similar distribution in Game 7. Only this time, his teammates will knock a few more down, and Jokić will finally reach a double-digit assist total in this series.
The points and rebounds? Well, those are almost a given.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Will Score 40
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It's not like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has had a bad postseason, but his 28.4 points per game is down from his regular-season average of 32.7. And he's yet to eclipse the 40-point plateau.
That last part wouldn't be a talking point for just about anyone else, but SGA got there 13 times in the regular season. He scored 50-plus four times.
And right now, it just feels like he could erupt at any moment.
Given his second option's struggles on Thursday (Jalen Williams went 3-of-16 in Game 6), expect Gilgeous-Alexander to come out aggressively on Sunday. Expect plenty of forays into the paint, plenty of drawn fouls and plenty of pull-up middies.
And expect all of the above to lead to a monster, 40-plus-point performance.
Aaron Gordon Will Play
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The Nuggets were riding high after Game 6, but the victory didn't come without a fair bit of concern.
With just under two minutes left in the fourth quarter, Aaron Gordon scrambled for a loose ball and appeared to pull up with a hamstring injury immediately afterward.
Following the game, Nuggets head coach David Adelman said the concern level was "high," but he also noted that this was a good time to finally get an extra day of rest (Game 6 was Denver's eighth playoff game in 15 days).
Gordon will surely go through plenty of treatment on Friday and Saturday. And though he may not be 100 percent for Game 7, expect him to gut it out and continue to fill gaps the way he has all postseason.
Gordon's multipositional defense, passing, rebounding and occasional scoring have been crucial during this run. He has two game-winners. And given his competitiveness, it's hard to imagine him finishing the series on the bench.
Jalen Williams Will Bounce Back
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Williams' shooting struggles made him a trending topic on X during Game 6, but he wasn't a total minus.
The All-Star wing's game has never been entirely predicated on scoring, and he filled the rest of the box score on Thursday.
He only had six points, but he totaled 10 assists, seven rebounds, three steals and a block. His perimeter defense was at its typically tenacious levels. And his playmaking helped keep OKC's offense close for most of Game 6.
He'll continue to bring all those ancillary contributions in Game 7, but that day, the points will follow, too.
In his last three games, Williams has gone for 10, 18 and 6 points, respectively. He's due for a breakout. And on Sunday, he'll get it.
OKC Will Win a Tight One and Advance to the Conference Finals
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Outside the 43-point blowout in Game 2, each contest in this series has been hyper-competive.
At times (like Games 2 through 4, when he averaged 21.3 points on 33.3 percent shooting), Jokić has been held in check. SGA had off nights in Games 3 and 4, when he averaged 21.5 points on 36.6 percent shooting.
The supporting casts have seemingly been alternating breakout nights. The defenses on both sides have been locked in most of the way.
And the stars have had monster performances, too.
It will all come to a head on Sunday in OKC, where the effort level from everyone is going to be off the charts and the final score will be close (and probably relatively low).
But being at home and getting the aforementioned big nights from SGA and Williams will help the Thunder carry the day.
And it'll set up a matchup of two of the league's biggest, most athletic and most physical teams in the Western Conference Finals, where OKC will meet the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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