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00:00Alexander reaches in, gets Jokic across the wrist.
00:0512 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists for Jokic.
00:08He's only averaging about 5 assists, I say only.
00:11For his standards, that's really low, considering he averaged about 10 during the regular season.
00:17But 5 in this series. Caruso, wild shot.
00:19Gordon with the backside board.
00:21Denver trying to make a move here in the final stages of the first half.
00:25Gordon slams it through!
00:28Denver back within 5 with a minute left.
00:31One of the few transition opportunities and Jokic did a great job of sealing
00:36the defense in the paint to create that driving lane for Gordon.
00:407-0 run, offensive foul, Jalen Williams caught Jamal Murray in the face.
00:47David Adleman wants the officials to look at that for a possible flagrant foul.
00:54Second foul on Jalen Williams.
00:59They're going to take a look at that without question.
01:02You have to because it's elbow contact above the shoulders.
01:07Certainly don't think it's intentional but when you have a wide base with your elbows
01:12and you swing through and you make contact.
01:15The offensive foul of Seth Williams will be reviewed for a potential flagrant foul.
01:21Unnecessary physical contact is the definition of a flagrant penalty one
01:27which would be two shots in the ball.
01:36Upon review, it has been determined that it was a normal basketball move
01:41with his forearm vertical.
01:43Therefore, this offensive foul was correctly judged offensive foul.
01:48Quick review, quick decision, common foul but it will be Denver ball.
01:53Yeah, and I like it.
01:54You have to look at it because of the elbow contact to the face.
01:58But again, I was about to say growing up, this is how you were taught
02:04when a guy was jamming you up on the catch to get them off you
02:07was to swing that basketball around and sometimes you're going to catch somebody
02:10with an elbow so I like that.
02:13It wasn't a violent swing.
02:15Understandably so, the ruling being a common foul.
02:19Most importantly, it's a turnover and Denver gets an opportunity here
02:22to cut into this lead.
02:23Murray hasn't scored in the quarter.
02:25Eleven in the first.
02:26Driving here, goes to the left hand.
02:28What a sweet move.
02:29Hanging and finishing Jamal Murray.
02:31Denver back within three.
02:33Gilda's Alexander can only watch on the bench with four fouls.
02:37A beautiful body control to avoid the shot blocker.
02:42Wallace missed the three.
02:43Rebound Jokic.
02:44Quick outlet Murray.
02:46Nine second difference in the game in shot clocks.
02:50Denver won't go for the two for one.
02:52Murray again drives.
02:54Missed the floater.
02:55And out of bounds.
02:57Off Oklahoma City.
02:58Now Denver with the shot clock off.
03:01Now they're going to put it back to 14.
03:03So 5.9 second difference in the clocks here.
03:09First time for Shea with four fouls in the first half of a game
03:14in almost three years.
03:18He picked up the third with four minutes to go and stayed in the game
03:21until he picked up that fourth with about a minute left.
03:26Brown to tie it.
03:28Got it.
03:3312-0 run by Denver.
03:35And Christian Brown has been the offensive spark.
03:38He's got 15.
03:39Eight seconds to go in the half.
03:43Williams driving.
03:45Three seconds left.
03:47Fires to Dort with one.
03:48Launches.
03:49And hits.
03:50Lou Dort beats the buzzer with a rainbow three.
03:54And that ends a Denver 12-0 run to give the Thunder a three-point lead
03:59at the break.
04:02Clearly got it away in time.
04:05Lou Dort, who hit three fourth-quarter threes to win game five,
04:09a huge game six-three at the Horn.
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05:02Conference Semifinals delivered by Chipotle.
05:05Denver trying to force a game seven, which would be Sunday in Oklahoma City.
05:08Thunder trying to move on to the Conference Finals
05:11for the first time since 2016.
05:14And host Minnesota on Sunday afternoon.
05:17First-half stats brought to you by Patron Tequila.
05:21Shea Gilgis, Alexander, 14 points but four personal fouls.
05:25Jokic, four of seven, so just seven shot attempts, no threes.
05:29Jamal Murray, 11 of his 13 points came in the first quarter.
05:32Dave Pasch, Tim Legler, and Katie George with you.
05:35Well, Oklahoma City legs had the best defense during the regular season.
05:38They got down 10 in this game, but their defense turned the game around
05:41as we look at our value play brought to you by McDonald's.
05:44Yeah, but really after the first 10 minutes where Denver controlled the action,
05:47offensively got into a flow, OKC's defense got them the lead.
05:52Great rotations.
05:53This is OKC at their best.
05:55A weak side rotation, sink down on the big, forces an open floor turnover.
06:00This is what Jokic has been seeing this entire series.
06:03You see four sets of defenders now, five in the paint,
06:07forced a cross-court kick out, tremendous closeout,
06:10and then stay on your feet defensively on the contest.
06:14OKC with that surge in the second quarter to take the lead
06:18before Denver finished well to get this to a three-point game.
06:21Here's Katie.
06:22Yeah, Dave, Christian Brown, who leads the Nuggets with 15 points, told us pregame
06:25he thought he played really well in the regular season, couldn't have gone better.
06:29But coming into the playoffs, he expected his scoring to go down
06:32because he'd have such a big assignment on defense.
06:34To this point, he's been happy with his defense,
06:36but he said, I have to shoot the ball better in the playoffs.
06:39I have to shoot it better, and I have two games to turn that around.
06:42So far, so good, guys.
06:43Yeah, he hit a three to tie the game late.
06:45Lou Dort then made a corner three with a second to go
06:49to give Oklahoma City a three-point lead at halftime.
06:53Here's Porter, quiet first half battling that left shoulder injury,
06:56and that was way short by about three feet on that teardrop.
07:01Trying to make something happen right there.
07:03He also had an easy reversal to Jokic with nobody guarding him at the top of the key.
07:08Blocked by Porter on the three-point try from Holmgren.
07:16Jokic, eight rebounds, three assists to go with the 12-point.
07:19Puts it on the floor here, hangs, and finishes.
07:23Got to expect him to be more aggressive looking to score here in the third quarter.
07:27What a tough finish that was as the second defender, Jalen Williams,
07:31comes at him as he's going through the lane.
07:33He just steps, goes back to his right hand with a tough short floater.
07:37In the corner, Jalen Williams lets it fly.
07:40Missed fire on the triple try.
07:42Into the open court, Jokic waits for his teammate, Jamal Murray.
07:47Eighth year together.
07:49Murray in the paint, pulls up, around, and down to give Denver the lead back.
07:55A similar start to what we had at the beginning of the game
07:58where Denver's first three trips, a lot of freedom.
08:03That one almost brought rain on that three by Dort.
08:06He missed it.
08:08Got eight points, two threes.
08:09Murray blows past Holmgren and fouled by Holmgren.
08:15Murray a little slow to get up.
08:17Holmgren picks up his second foul.
08:18Murray listed as questionable coming into today due to illness.
08:22Very similar to how we started, you know,
08:25Denver getting out early with some opportunities.
08:27Jamal Murray was aggressive at the start of the game.
08:30Aggressive here again getting to that little short pull-up.
08:37Got a timeout on the floor by Oklahoma City.
08:39Back with free throws after this.
08:45Alex Caruso is a communicative player.
08:48And Mark Dagnall says it's not warm, he's intense.
08:51It's continuous.
08:52He's talking in every huddle on every play.
08:54So it can be seen as a lot.
08:56But Caruso has so much credibility on the team.
08:58He's so present and competitive that he can deliver the message however he wants
09:02because his teammates trust him.
09:04He's had a really big impact on this team, guys,
09:06since joining the Thunder in the offseason, Dave.
09:08And a really big impact on this game despite not scoring.
09:11He has two assists, a block.
09:13When he came into the game in the first quarter, they were down 10,
09:17and you could tell there was a different vibe with him on the floor.
09:20Yeah, he's been a big part of OKC's runs in this series.
09:24It seems like he's got his fingerprints on it.
09:26When he's on the floor, good things are happening for OKC.
09:31Murray now with 16 points, 3 of 4 from the line.
09:35Oklahoma City yet to score.
09:37Yet in the second half, Jamal Murray was in a little pain after that hard fall.
09:44Wincing in pain over on the bench during that last timeout.
09:49So going back to the end of the second quarter, it's an 18-3 run,
09:53the only points for the Thunder.
09:55Again, that door buzzer beater.
09:59Lead back to 3 for Denver.
10:01Gildas Alexander with a sidestep and score, plus a foul.
10:05Chance to tie it at the line with Brown picking up his second personal.
10:09Christian Brown told us before the game that this is the toughest guy
10:13he's had to guard in the NBA right there, and this is why.
10:16No matter how well you play him off the initial move,
10:19he's always got to counter with his handle and his lean back away from you
10:24after he hits you with the bump.
10:26That time Christian Brown draped on him.
10:28It's good defense, but Shea Gildas Alexander has an answer for it.
10:33Gildas Alexander now 6 of 9 at the line.
10:36MVP runner-up last year.
10:39Perhaps the favorite this year.
10:40We'll know soon enough.
10:42Finalist along with Yoko Chinonis.
10:43Here's Murray for a 3, and it's no good.
10:46Rebound home run.
10:48A subtle thing there, but Lou Dortch is coming over the top
10:50and waving his hand on that release.
10:52I think it was enough to force Jamal Murray to miss that shot.
10:56Gildas Alexander playing with four personal fouls.
10:5817 points, 5 of 7 from the floor.
11:01They swing it to Dortch into the paint.
11:03Dortch stops, pops, hits.
11:05Lou Dortch gives the Thunder the lead back.
11:10Dortch with 10 points.
11:12Here's Gordon on the other end.
11:13Quiet, just five shot attempts.
11:15Five points.
11:16Jokic in the paint going at home run and floating it up and home.
11:19So smart.
11:20Jokic that time didn't wait for the defense to come after he catches the ball.
11:24He felt where Holmgren was, used his leverage to get to an easy one.
11:28Canning the 3 is Gildas Alexander.
11:30He's got 20 points.
11:32That beautiful side step or step back.
11:35So hard to guard.
11:36He glides on those.
11:38Got great length.
11:39Really hard to challenge that shot.
11:41Pass in the paint to Jokic.
11:42Kick out Brown.
11:43Back to the Joker.
11:45Porter, he'll rise.
11:47Way off on the 3.
11:49I just think if Jokic is going to flash through the ball like that
11:51and get 1-on-1 coverage against Hornstein,
11:53he needs to attack him and try to earn something at the line
11:57or get something at the rim.
12:00Williams missed the 3.
12:01He's 3 for 11 from the floor.
12:030 for 3 from 3.
12:04Thunder by 3.
12:05Gordon on the back down.
12:07Finds Murray.
12:083, no good.
12:09Long rebound.
12:10Murray gets it.
12:12Now Porter will try it and hit it.
12:15You had to wonder with that left shoulder injury
12:19how much of the shooting issues are physical,
12:21how much are mental, but that one was good.
12:24I think he's feeling pain every time he goes to get that basketball
12:27up into the shooting position as OKC knocks down a 3
12:32to regain the lead.
12:33So I think Michael Porter Jr.
12:34is just having a problem concentrating through the pain
12:37that he's feeling.
12:39Did a good job on that last one staying with it.
12:41David Adelman says that pain is different every game.
12:43Brown's 3.
12:44Not close.
12:45Holmgren has 8 rebounds now.
12:4814 points, 2 3-pointers.
12:50Thunder back up 3.
12:51Yojis Alexander on the baseline.
12:53No basket.
12:54Foul on the floor on Brown.
12:56That's 3 on him and 2 on Denver here in the quarter.
13:02Yeah, SGA, he sees right here as he came up the floor,
13:06he saw that Denver was really slowing down.
13:09He saw that Denver was really slow getting back
13:12and positioning themselves along the baseline.
13:15So he decided to go ahead and attack.
13:17One defender trying to turn that corner draws the foul.
13:20He's averaging 28 points per game here in the series.
13:24He's had some inefficient nights, but not tonight.
13:268 shot attempts, 20 points.
13:28Caruso's 3, not there.
13:29Porter with the rebound.
13:32Denver trying to push tempo here.
13:34Brown trying to free up Murray with a screen.
13:36Murray's double.
13:40Murray got Hartenstein on him now.
13:43Jokic in the high post to the corner.
13:45Brown out to Murray.
13:47Open 3.
13:49No good.
13:50Offensive rebound.
13:51Brown back up and in.
13:57Christian Brown with 17 points.
14:00Third-year player out of Kansas.
14:03And a foul as Caruso took a shot from Murray.
14:06That's 3 on Jamal Murray.
14:10Arguing the call with Kevin Scott.
14:15I was going to say, if Murray didn't hit him,
14:17this is an Academy Award-winning performance because he's saying
14:20he didn't hit him, but he clearly did.
14:22As Caruso sets that screen, Murray's elbow comes up,
14:25catches Caruso in the chin.
14:36Oklahoma City going to substitute a couple of players.
14:39Wiggins will come in along with Wallace.
14:41Kayson Wallace was great in that first half.
14:4410 points, 2 threes, and 3 steals.
14:46This is earlier than you would ever see SGA come out in the third quarter,
14:51but you can see Mark Dagnall's philosophy right now is to try to buy
14:55as many minutes as he can before he picks up that fifth foul.
14:59Wiggins 3.
15:00No good.
15:01Rebound Jokic.
15:02That's 9 boards for the Joker.
15:04Denver with possession.
15:05Down 1.
15:06Five minutes gone by.
15:07Third quarter.
15:08Swing to Murray.
15:09Lob underneath.
15:10Gordon in traffic.
15:13Touched it last.
15:14Out of bounds to Oklahoma City.
15:16Trying to throw it off a Thunder defender.
15:23Well, the crowd thought there was contact there on Gordon as he was
15:26trying to save that basketball, but I just think that's two guys
15:29fighting for the ball.
15:30I like the no call there.
15:34Denver staying with that zone.
15:36Caruso bounces underneath.
15:37Hartenstein with the slam.
15:40Caruso continues to have an impact.
15:43Just the second basket for Hartenstein.
15:45He played much of that first half in foul trouble with three.
15:48Porter tries again.
15:50Around, and it falls.
15:51Michael Porter, Jr.
15:53With a long two.
15:55It's a two-pointer, so it's 74-73, Oklahoma City.
15:59Williams back to work.
16:01Hartenstein again.
16:02Reverse jam this time.
16:04Well, they're just allowing too much penetration from the top, and
16:07now you have difficult decisions for the back line defender.
16:10Jokic went to step up, and when he does, you've got cutters along
16:14the baseline.
16:15Count that one, and a foul.
16:17Murray knifing through the defense, muscles it up.
16:21He'll go to the line and try to tie the game and complete a
16:25three-point play.
16:26Yeah, Jamal Murray staying with this right here.
16:28Great job at the last second, stepping through, gets between two
16:34defenders, neither a shot blocker or a big, so he felt like he
16:39could absorb the contact, get to the other side of the rim.
16:42Murray completes the three-point play.
16:44He's got 20 points now, seven here in the third quarter.
16:49Game is tied midway through the third.
16:51Oklahoma City leads the series three games to two.
16:54If there is a game seven, it would be Sunday on ABC in Oklahoma City.
16:58Otherwise, it's game one, Thunder Wolves, Sunday on ABC.
17:02Wiggins downhill.
17:03Blew the layup, but Hartenstein slams it over Jokic.
17:08Recurring theme right here for Denver defensively.
17:10They're just not stopping the ball with their outer shell, and now
17:14that's three baskets at the rim, all caused by penetration.
17:21Thunder back up two.
17:23Caruso guarding Murray 30 feet away.
17:25Gordon's got a mismatch.
17:26Smaller Wallace on him.
17:28Shot clock down to four.
17:29Murray drives the lane, got caught in the air.
17:33Brown catches the air ball and a foul called before the 24-second
17:38violation on Oklahoma City.
17:47They'll look at it to make sure the foul occurred before the violation by
17:51Denver.
17:52We will review this foul to determine if the foul occurred before or after
17:55the expiration of the shot clock.
17:57Third team foul.
17:58Second personal if it stands.
18:21I can't see the clock there or the light.
18:30Upon review, it has been confirmed that the illegal contact occurred prior to
18:33expiration of the shot clock.
18:35Therefore, the foul remains two free throws.
18:38So free throws for Christian Brown.
18:42See the foul coming before the clock hits zero.
18:48Christian Brown now with seven rebounds in this game.
18:50And he's had a couple of big offensive rebounds here in the last couple of
18:54minutes.
18:55One a put back.
18:56And that time an opportunity to get two free throws just before a shot
19:01clock violation.
19:02Seven rebounds to go with those 17 points.
19:05Second most in his postseason career.
19:11Take a look at the upcoming national TV schedule.
19:13Game six tomorrow night with the Knicks and Celtics from New York.
19:17Boston winning last night.
19:18Now the Celtics look to force a game seven.
19:20Doubleheader on ABC Saturday for the WNBA tipoff.
19:23Aces are at New York.
19:25And Indiana, Kaitlin Clark hosting Chicago for more.
19:28Go to NBA.com or the NBA app.
19:31Brown gets the bounce on the second free throw.
19:33And the game is tied at 78.
19:36Georges Alexander staying on the bench for those four personal fouls.
19:40Five minutes to go here in the third.
19:42Jalen Williams struggling tonight.
19:45Three of 11.
19:46Just six points.
19:47He was an all-star this year.
19:49Wiggins in the corner.
19:50Shot clock down to five.
19:53Hardenstein looking for a guard.
19:55Shovels it.
19:56Wallace.
19:57Three.
19:58Way off.
19:59Almost batted in by Hardenstein.
20:00Jokic hit the deck.
20:01Brown out of there with it.
20:03That's the best defensive possession Denver's had in the last five trips.
20:07Containment, closeout, and secure the rebound.
20:10Porter off the screen.
20:12Front rimmed in.
20:13Cleared by Williams.
20:17Williams races across the timeline all the way to the cup.
20:20Missed the shot.
20:21Long rebound.
20:22Gordon.
20:23Thunder gets back, though.
20:27Jokic has Jalen Williams on him.
20:29Now Hardenstein coming over to help.
20:31Gordon on the back down.
20:32Turnaround, jump shot, and it's not there.
20:37Just five points for Gordon on two of six from the floor.
20:41Here's Williams.
20:42Good screen setup.
20:43Williams couldn't pay it off.
20:45Jokic with his tenth rebound.
20:47Jokic to this point just nine field goal attempts.
20:50Has not attempted a three.
20:51It's hard to imagine with Denver being able to win this game unless he's got a
20:55bigger imprint as a scorer over the last 15 minutes.
21:00Spinning.
21:01Baseline.
21:02Puts it up and in.
21:03Gorgeous move by Nikoli Jokic.
21:05Denver back on top by two.
21:08It didn't take any chances that there would be a double team coming.
21:11He spins to the baseline away from the traffic for that jump hook.
21:16Hardenstein.
21:19Hands it off Williams.
21:20Shot clock inside of ten.
21:22Wiggins on the spot up three.
21:23No good.
21:25Jokic with rebound number 11.
21:28Jokic seven of ten from the floor, three of three here in the quarter.
21:31Eighteen points.
21:32He also has five assists.
21:36Jokic off the Gordon screen.
21:39And Jokic has Caruso fronting him.
21:42And they're going to call Caruso for the foul.
21:44What a smart play by Jokic to lean into Caruso and basically initiate the
21:49contact.
21:51First on Caruso.
21:53Fourth team foul.
21:55Caruso trying to get into a front position because he understands Jokic is
21:59going to try to walk him into the post.
22:01But I like this by Jokic.
22:02He sees Wallace on top.
22:04And he takes one more dribble to the middle.
22:06Kayson Wallace is going to be in his lap.
22:09So, instead, he decides to go ahead and operate against one defender, gets to
22:13the baseline.
22:14Russell Westbrook in the game at a rough first half.
22:17Brown drives.
22:18Westbrook in the paint.
22:19Goes to the bucket.
22:20Missed the layup.
22:24Inside three to play in the third.
22:26Denver by two.
22:27Murray getting a lot of minutes on the court here in the third quarter.
22:32And that lob way over the head of Chet Holmgren who gets contacted by
22:37Murray.
22:38And they're going to say out of bounds.
22:41Denver possession.
22:45241 on the clock.
22:47Third quarter.
22:49Thunder looking to advance but trailing by two.
22:57The NBA Conference Semifinals on ESPN are delivered by Chipotle.
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23:04Access to all the drama.
23:06Dave Pasch, Tim Legler, Katie George in Denver.
23:09You see there Chet Holmgren touching it last.
23:11There was contact from Jamal Murray but not enough for a defensive foul.
23:18So, it is going to be Denver ball.
23:21So, Shea Gilchrist-Alexander is back in.
23:23Jalen Williams on the bench.
23:24One of the reasons they're down, yes, nine assists, but three for 13 for your
23:28second-best player and all-star this year.
23:33They need more help for Gilchrist-Alexander.
23:35Jalen Williams has struggled with his shooting throughout the entire series.
23:39And SGA on the bench are right.
23:41Who's going to lead their offense?
23:44Again, SGA back on the floor.
23:46Four fouls in the game.
23:47Just played a few minutes here in the third.
23:49Jokic missed the three.
23:50That was his first attempt from behind the three-point stripe.
23:54A second-chance opportunity.
24:00Brown, he'll fire.
24:02Miss a three.
24:04And Jalen Williams, the other Jalen, tracks it down.
24:06Two minutes to go.
24:07Two-point game here in the third.
24:09Gilchrist-Alexander, 20 points, six of eight from the floor.
24:12Drives, reverse layup, good, off the window.
24:15That's just too easy.
24:16Comes down, just gets one brush screen.
24:18Gets all the way to the other side of the rim for a reverse layup.
24:23That ties the game at 80.
24:24Inside two minutes to go here in the third quarter.
24:30Strother for three.
24:32Julian Strother with his first points of the game.
24:40He is a scorer and a shooter,
24:42but he hasn't had many opportunities in this series.
24:45Now a Strother foul on the other end as Dort went slotting to the ground.
24:51First in the last two minutes on Denver,
24:53and the first three for Denver's bench in the game.
24:57Played in four games in the series, only three-and-a-half points,
25:00but he stepped into that one with a lot of confidence.
25:03And here you see their feet get tangled up as Dort's going to set that screen.
25:16Gilchrist-Alexander driving, goes to the left hand, layup no good.
25:20Holmgren swatted by Jokic, ahead to Murray.
25:24Challenged by Williams, and Murray scores.
25:32Denver pushes its lead to five with a minute to go in the third.
25:36What velocity on that outlet pass was able to get Murray in stride
25:40out ahead of the pack.
25:42And an offensive foul called on Jalen Williams on the screen.
25:46That's his fourth.
25:48But how about Jamal Murray, 22 points, nine in the quarter,
25:52was listed as questionable.
25:54He's been sick since late last night.
25:58Played 30 minutes tonight trying to force a game seven.
26:04Well, you see Jokic right here with the block, secures the ball,
26:08and look at that outlet pass on a rope.
26:11Murray with some contact on that reverse.
26:13He was emphatic that that should have been an and one.
26:18Lou Dort will greet him at midcourt.
26:23Murray around two screens.
26:25Holmgren picks him up.
26:26Murray keeps the bounce.
26:27Now to the corner.
26:28Strother, again, and another one.
26:36The 23-year-old who played sparingly during the regular season
26:40coming up huge in game six.
26:43It's an eight-nothing Denver run.
26:45Empty possession for the Thunder.
26:47Four-second difference in the game and shot clocks here at the end of the third.
26:56Murray with six on the shot clock.
26:58Draws Hartenstein on the switch.
27:01Fires underneath.
27:02Strother puts it in.
27:08Westbrook falls down.
27:09One second left.
27:10Shea can't get the bounce, but a foul.
27:14And Gilgis Alexander will go to the line.
27:20A ten-nothing run, though, by Denver.
27:22Eight of those ten points by second-year pro Julian Strother.
27:27And you see OKC getting extended on the perimeter.
27:30Looking at Murray and Jokic.
27:32Strother with a great cut and delivery.
27:36SGA just getting that ball end-to-end quickly.
27:40Doing everything he can to draw contact.
27:43Strother played in just three games in the first round.
27:45He's played in five of the six games this round.
27:48He's averaging just two points per game in the playoffs, but he has eight points here.
27:53Meanwhile, Gilgis Alexander knocks down a free throw.
27:56Six-tenths of a second left in the third.
27:58Talked about the supporting cast being everything for Denver.
28:01They had to play better.
28:03You've gotten it out of Christian Brown.
28:05You've gotten it out of Michael Porter, Jr.
28:08And now you get really timely contribution out of Strother.
28:13A standing ovation as he goes to the bench.
28:16And Gordon checks in for the final six-tenths of a second.
28:31SGA got them both.
28:32Eight of 11 at the line, 24 points.
28:34Jokic, three-quarter court.
28:37And the third quarter comes to an end.
28:40Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets trying to force a game seven.
28:45They have an eight-point lead with one quarter to go here in the Mile High City.
28:54What did you like most about the way you guys closed out the third quarter?
28:57Well, we got some help.
28:58You know, Julian made some big shots, made a great back cut off their pressure.
29:02Obviously, we took care of the ball later in that quarter.
29:05If we do that, get shots to the rim, we'll be in a good place.
29:08But, again, we've been in this situation before with these guys.
29:11Take care of the ball, defensive rebound, quality offensive possessions.
29:15Thanks for your time, David.
29:16Thanks, appreciate it.
29:17And their defense, Katie, really good.
29:18They held Oklahoma City to 21 third-quarter points after 61 in the first half.
29:24He referenced twice they're taking care of the ball.
29:26Only eight turnovers on the night, only leading to 11 points for OKC.
29:31They've turned that around for the rest of the series.
29:34Missed three, but a second-chance opportunity.
29:36Caruso can't find the bottom of the net.
29:38Rebound, Gordon.
29:39Jokic on the bench to start the final frame.
29:42Yoges Alexander on the court.
29:45Peyton Watson missed the dunk.
29:47Offensive rebound, and Gordon and Hartenstein get tangled up.
29:54They're going to call a foul on Hartenstein.
29:55That's four on him.
29:57So both Hartenstein and Yoges Alexander and Jalen Williams from Arkansas
30:02with four fouls.
30:04Yeah, Aaron Gordon with inside position right there.
30:07Hartenstein really just caught in a bad spot at a bad time.
30:11As Gordon had that basketball, his arm was already coming over his shoulder,
30:15an easy call.
30:17Julian Strother staying in the game.
30:19He had eight points there off the bench at nine in a game in this playoffs.
30:23Three-pointer from Jamal Murray goes down.
30:26He's got 25.
30:27Denver has its largest lead.
30:29You see it in his eyes right now.
30:31He's got great bounce, and he was looking for that
30:34and hunting that shot well before the ball came to him.
30:37Wiggins can't answer.
30:39Oklahoma City shooting under 30% from three here in game six.
30:45And Denver extending the lead with Jokic getting some rest.
30:49Murray, meanwhile, has played 33 minutes.
30:52That ties for the most on the team.
30:54Strother feeling it.
30:56Shot clock down to five.
30:57Murray wants a clear out.
30:58Driving on Wallace.
31:00Goes to the left scoop.
31:01Wouldn't fall.
31:02Loose ball.
31:03And it's a shot clock violation.
31:09Yeah, you could tell when a shooter is feeling it.
31:12As he was coming out and backpedaling to the three-point line,
31:15he already had his hands set.
31:17If that ball was swung to him, he knew he was going to get up into his rhythm.
31:22Keep in mind, too, the last two games,
31:24Oklahoma City outscored Denver 63-37 in the fourth quarter.
31:28Again, Denver has a double-digit fourth-quarter lead.
31:31Can they hang on?
31:32That will help.
31:33The rejection by Westbrook.
31:36Out of bounds.
31:37Thunder will keep with 13 on the shot clock.
31:40Yeah, continuing to put pressure on the top of this defense.
31:43SGA gets downhill, but he is surrounded,
31:46and Westbrook hangs in the air long enough to make a play.
31:54Gilgis Alexander, great look.
31:55And Caruso with the layup.
32:0093-84, Denver.
32:03If the Nuggets win game seven Sunday ABC in Oklahoma City.
32:07If the Thunder win game one Western Conference Finals.
32:10Thunder, Wolves Sunday ABC.
32:13Oklahoma City's last trip to the Conference Finals 2016.
32:17Westbrook and Durant's final run with the Thunder.
32:21Westbrook with a shot clock at three.
32:24Passes inside to Watson.
32:26Westbrook couldn't get the tip.
32:29And it's cleared by Wiggins.
32:31And here goes the Thunder in transition.
32:33Caruso got it to go.
32:35What a play with Watson trying to swat it.
32:38Well, Denver got caught with three guys on the offensive boards.
32:40Two of them go to the ground.
32:42That created numbers for OKC.
32:44Great decision to throw it ahead of Caruso.
32:47Finishes strong.
32:49Murray goes away from the screen.
32:54Gordon on the post up, knocked away by Jalen Williams.
32:57Wiggins again pushing ahead to Williams.
33:00Watson with a great play gets the swat.
33:03One of the elite shot blockers in the league.
33:06Strother takes it to the cup.
33:08Westbrook with the follow.
33:17Lead back to nine for Denver.
33:19And there's that energy and effort we said we'd continue to play with.
33:22And Westbrook finally gets something positive to happen with that putback.
33:26And then not a smart foul on Caruso.
33:29He blew the layup and then fouls Gordon about 40 feet away from the basket
33:33on the other end.
33:34Second team foul.
33:37Great play.
33:38I mean, you felt this slipping a little bit for Denver.
33:41Offensively having some issues.
33:43OKC on a run.
33:44And Peyton Watson, well, that is so difficult to do.
33:47He lets him go in front of him and still has the length to get there
33:51with the block shot.
33:53And there's Russell Westbrook.
33:54Again, you know he's going to be relentless.
33:56Finds the open pocket at the rim for the putback.
33:59Good defense by Jalen Williams but couldn't rip it away from Gordon.
34:02Gordon will rise and miss the three.
34:05Watson keeps it alive.
34:06And Dort has it now for the Thunder.
34:09Gildas Alexander, 24 points.
34:14His team down nine.
34:16Eight and a half to go.
34:17Fires underneath.
34:19Wallace spinning, missing.
34:21And Murray's got it.
34:27Jokic at the scorer's table.
34:28He'll check in at the next dead ball.
34:35Hurry on the back down.
34:37Westbrook.
34:39No good.
34:40Too strong on the three.
34:41But Watson with the offensive board.
34:47Strother driving.
34:48Gets down the lane.
34:51And the foul on the Strother drive.
34:53He'll go to the line for two.
34:55Playing very confident basketball right now.
35:00Absolutely strong.
35:01Gets those three shots to go to close out the quarter.
35:04So, he is a natural scorer.
35:06He's feeling confident putting pressure downhill.
35:11Gets fouled.
35:12And again, you see Westbrook would have been there trying to put that back in.
35:16But Strother very aggressive at this moment.
35:18Foul on Dort.
35:19That's a third team foul.
35:20Strother at 21 points in a game during the regular season.
35:23Hits the free throw to give him nine points tonight.
35:26We've got another game six tomorrow night on ESPN.
35:28The Celtics and the Knicks.
35:30New York up three games to two.
35:32Cambridge begins NBA count on 7 Eastern.
35:34The Pacers await the winner.
35:38Can Boston do it again without Jason Tatum, but this time on the road?
35:45Well, they just bought Jokic four minutes of rest.
35:47I actually thought he was going to go to him at about nine and a half minutes
35:51left in the fourth.
35:53But because Denver was able to get some points on the board,
35:56they got him an additional minute and a half of rest.
35:59This game was tied at 80.
36:01Julian Strother since then has 10 points.
36:04The Thunder have six.
36:05Jokic called for a foul as Gilgis Alexander hits the deck.
36:11First on Denver during the quarter and the third on Jokic.
36:21Contact.
36:22He reached in with his left hand and grabbed Shea Gilgis Alexander's arm.
36:26And I think he really just lost his balance,
36:28but there was definitely contact.
36:35Shot clock down to five.
36:36Holmgren out to Dort.
36:39Dort's three in and out.
36:40Ball knocked out of bounds.
36:42Last touch by Holmgren.
36:45Denver ball.
36:46With a suspense when the ball's in the air from Dort.
36:48It's a 24-foot shot, but it travels a mile and a half.
36:52So everybody's got to sit and wait to see what the result is.
36:57And he's two for six.
36:58Westbrook fires underneath.
37:00Watson, nice catch on that bullet pass.
37:03Can't bank in the turnaround.
37:05And Holmgren with a rebound.
37:07With the Thunder, nine of 32, just 28% from three.
37:120 for three here in the quarter.
37:15Just two made threes in the half.
37:17Gilgis Alexander from the midrange.
37:18He's got 26.
37:19Boy, if he gets a side to himself, that's what he's going to do every time.
37:23Tried hard baseline.
37:24He bumps you with the off shoulder.
37:26It gets to that lean back jumper.
37:28Dort called for a foul.
37:30Just his second personal, but that's the fourth team foul on the Thunder.
37:35Well, you know, Shea Gilgis Alexander will not go quietly.
37:39Eyes light up when he's got a side to himself.
37:42Gets one to go, and the Thunder got some work to do.
37:45The NBA Conference Semifinals on ESPN are delivered by Chipotle.
37:54Real ingredients.
37:55Real flavor.
37:56Chipotle.
37:57For real.
37:58And in part by Doritos.
38:00For the bold.
38:05The game is brought to you by State Farm.
38:06We were all wondering what Jamar Murray would look like once we found out
38:10he was questionable to even play.
38:13What a lift he's given Denver.
38:15Playing strong at the rim, in transition,
38:18and in here showing you some great footwork as a screener.
38:22And then watch the way he backpedals into this three,
38:25gets his weight going forward, and steps into a three.
38:29David Adleman told us we didn't even know after the first six minutes
38:33how much he could play.
38:34Jamar Murray's played 35 minutes.
38:36That was him a moment ago on the bench.
38:37But back on the floor with a team high 25 points.
38:41Jokic rested the first four minutes and seven seconds.
38:44He's come back fresh.
38:46And Jokic from deep gives Denver a 12-point lead.
38:50What a time to hit his first three.
38:52Only three attempts on the night.
38:54Not a lot of space there,
38:56but felt comfortable going up and over the top.
38:59Largest lead of the game.
39:01The Thunder have just 27 points in this half.
39:04They can't make a shot from deep.
39:06Dort misses.
39:07Jokic ahead to Brown.
39:11Midway point of the fourth quarter.
39:12Denver trying to force a game seven,
39:15which would be in Oklahoma City Sunday.
39:17Jokic up and down.
39:23The fourth quarter has killed the Nuggets this series, but not tonight.
39:26Their lead is now 14.
39:29Jokic exerting his will right now as a scorer,
39:32understanding his team needs him to close the deal.
39:36Wow.
39:37Oklahoma City two for 17 from three this half after that air ball.
39:42He tricks you sometimes when he shoots these threes
39:45because it's just so relaxed and comfortable.
39:47And once that second defender clears out,
39:49Hardenstein can't get there in time.
39:51Again, look at the hands.
39:52Holds off the defender, catches it with one hand,
39:54and then that soft one-footed jumper.
40:00Brown, what a play.
40:01Jalen Williams rips it away and blew the dunk.
40:06Williams just three for 15.
40:08It's just not the Thunder's night.
40:12A lot of contact on that drive.
40:14Out of bounds.
40:15Last touch by the Thunder.
40:18Jalen Williams has won for his last 13.
40:21Yes, nine assists, but only six points.
40:25Yojas Alexander doing his part, 26, but not much help elsewhere.
40:31Murray around the screen, behind the back,
40:33throws it into the backcourt.
40:35Unforced error that time by Denver.
40:41And Jokic just really was leaning one direction
40:44when that ball was thrown to his right hand.
40:46He was already stepping in toward the three-point line
40:49with that left shoulder.
40:50Couldn't recover in time.
40:52Timeout on the floor.
40:53Denver 5-17 away from forcing a game seven on Sunday.
41:00The W is bigger than ever.
41:06So who's going to go out and own it?
41:17When game six concludes in Denver,
41:19it's Nicole Briscoe and David Lloyd with SportsCenter.
41:22Perk will react to tonight's game six.
41:24He'll talk about the game six tomorrow on ESPN.
41:26Celtics, Knicks, concerned for the Capitals.
41:30New Bears head coach Ben Johnson reacting to an interesting report
41:33of Caleb Williams plus PGA Championship highlights
41:35and more coming up.
41:36Look at the fourth quarter tonight,
41:38different story so far for Denver.
41:40It's held that Oklahoma City's missed 12 consecutive
41:43three-point attempts.
41:45Dave Pasch, Tim Legler, Katie George, 5-17 remaining.
41:49If Denver can force a game seven, it will be on Sunday,
41:53so a couple of days off and then Sunday afternoon
41:56on ABC 330 Eastern.
41:59Gilgis Alexander out to Holmgren.
42:01They need it.
42:02They don't get it.
42:04Rebounded by Strother and fouled by Caruso.
42:07That will send Strother to the line as the Thunder over the limit.
42:14And that three by Holmgren was by design.
42:17They got to that out of the timeout.
42:19They knew that there was going to be space on the perimeter
42:22off of Shea Gilgis Alexander's penetration.
42:25See Caruso with the foul right there.
42:27Denver doing a nice job of having everybody in the paint.
42:31Sometimes you can't secure it.
42:33You just tip it and hope that a teammate can secure it,
42:36and that's what happened for Strother.
42:38Ten points and 16 minutes off the bench for Julian Strother.
42:41Knocks down another free throw.
42:43The lead is 15, the largest of the game.
42:47A one seed has already been eliminated.
42:50The Cleveland Cavaliers, after a 60-plus win season,
42:54has been knocked out a couple of nights ago by Indiana.
42:57The one seed in the west, Oklahoma City,
42:59trying to close it out tonight,
43:01but may have to come down to that final game on Sunday on their home floor
43:07if they can't mount a comeback.
43:09Three-pointer Caruso finally.
43:11The Thunder get one to go after missing 13 straight.
43:15I know stylistically this game has been played more to Denver's liking.
43:19They were averaging 43-point attempts a game through the first five.
43:22Just 31 tonight.
43:24Points in the paint up as well.
43:28Jokic, oh, what a pass!
43:29No look to Christian Brown.
43:32That was some sorcery by Nikola Jokic.
43:39Lead back to 15.
43:41Holmgren with a slam.
43:44The one thing Denver's got to be careful of here
43:46is just not letting OKC score too quickly in the clock
43:50when you're trying to protect this lead.
43:52But that last pass by Jokic to Brown,
43:54first game in the series that Jokic has more than six assists,
43:58finally got his seventh.
43:59He also has 14 rebounds and 23 points.
44:02Holmgren got dazed because of the contact,
44:04and Jokic going right back at him, just backing him down,
44:07looking to move him out of the way.
44:09Strother, of course!
44:10The Julian Strother game!
44:24Now, a big part of Nikola Jokic's game, playmaking,
44:28making guys better, the look away.
44:31Christian Brown now played enough with him to know
44:34that weak side baseline cut is going to be there.
44:38And again, keeping his dribble,
44:40forcing the second defender to come,
44:43knowing all along he wanted to go to the hot hand,
44:46Julian Strother.
44:47Strother has 15 points in the game all this half.
44:50He's outscored Sheik Yotus Alexander.
44:5315 to 12 this half.
44:54Holmgren corner three, short.
44:56Rebound Brown.
44:57Denver ball, up 16.
44:59Three and a half to go.
45:04Jokic driving out to Brown.
45:11Shot clock down to seven.
45:14Jokic double, Strother with three.
45:17Strother gathers, leans in, fires.
45:20Missed that one.
45:21And Isaiah Joe, who's barely played tonight and in the series,
45:25out there because they need somebody to make a three.
45:28Yotus Alexander gets that one.
45:3014-point game.
45:34And David Adelman doesn't like this,
45:36so he calls a timeout.
45:383-11 on the clock.
45:42Good house!
45:44♪♪
46:05♪♪
46:15♪♪
46:25♪♪
46:35♪♪
46:46Foul and challenge situation.
46:483-11 to go.
46:49Denver 1-0-9.
46:50Oklahoma City 95.
46:52The Thunder led by three at halftime
46:54and a Lutdorff buzzer beater to end the second quarter.
46:58But Denver with a great response,
47:00especially in this quarter.
47:03A frame that has plagued them,
47:05really cost them a couple games in this series,
47:07trying to force a game seven,
47:09which would be Sunday afternoon on ABC,
47:11back at Paycom Center in Oklahoma.
47:14Denver's made 12 threes.
47:16You said legs at the top of the telecast.
47:19It can't just be Jokic and with the uncertainty
47:21about Murray's health, it has to be other guys.
47:23But I don't know if anybody thought it'd be Julian Strother.
47:26I'll tell you who did, Julian Strother,
47:28because I think he believes that every time he takes the floor,
47:32because he's a very confident shooter,
47:34and the opportunities were there,
47:35and he chose to take the floor.
47:37He's a very confident shooter,
47:39and the opportunities were there,
47:40and he chose to take the floor.
47:42The opportunities were there, and he jumped on it.
47:44Also, Porter played a little better.
47:46Good defense. Caruso the steal.
47:48Here's Joe, and he gets the dunk in transition.
47:51They've had a couple of misses and empty possessions in transition,
47:54but that one goes.
47:55And the one thing you just can't do right now
47:57if you're Denver is turn it over.
47:59You need to not necessarily try to eat clock,
48:02but you cannot turn the basketball over.
48:05You've got to get something up on that backboard.
48:07Strother lost his footing.
48:09Shot clock at six.
48:11Jokic spins, turns it over again.
48:13Numbers for the Thunder.
48:15SGA to the cup.
48:17It's a ten-point game.
48:20This is what Oklahoma City can do to you.
48:23They get up in you when you're handling the basketball.
48:26Quickness all over the floor.
48:28They anticipate when you come out of a spin,
48:30as well as any team in this league, to run a second guy at you.
48:34Jokic fumbles it away, gathers again, gets in the lane,
48:38to Brown.
48:42And a foul is called on Oklahoma City on Caruso,
48:46and they're over the limit.
48:47That foul occurring with about seven to shoot.
48:49Jokic will be at the free throw line.
48:52Jokic made sure he wasn't going to turn it over that time.
48:55He's just going to barrel his way down the lane.
48:57Gets two.
48:58You see his arm hit on the pass.
49:00And I'll tell you what, after that whistle,
49:02Nikolai Jokic walked away
49:03and did everything he could to get his breathing under control.
49:08Played 39 minutes.
49:10That one rattles around and drops.
49:13He's got 24 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists.
49:16Westbrook checks back in.
49:17Strother to the bench.
49:18Yeah, some teams get back in the games with their three-point shooting.
49:21That's why big leads in this league disappear often.
49:25OKC does it differently.
49:26They can turn up the pressure to such an extent on your ball handlers.
49:30They can force multiple turnovers in a short period of time.
49:33And that's how they get back in the open floor.
49:36Jokic gets them both.
49:38So he's got 25.
49:40Jamal Murray with 25.
49:41Murray's played 40 minutes.
49:43Holmgren driving, going right at Jokic.
49:46Count the basket and a foul.
49:48So a chance for the Thunder to make it a nine-point game with 153 on the clock.
49:54Nice job by Holmgren that time.
49:57He attacked Jokic when he was closing out by going opposite the direction in
50:02which Jokic was running at him.
50:04Big guy like Jokic is going to have a tough time shifting his weight
50:07and cutting him off.
50:09Fourth foul on Jokic.
50:14Holmgren trying to complete the three-point play.
50:19We've seen some crazy stuff in the postseason with comebacks.
50:24See the Indiana Pacers twice.
50:26They did it in the first round and the second round
50:28to make it to the conference finals.
50:30And now it's a nine-point game here in Denver in game six.
50:33It was 16 just a couple minutes ago.
50:35It hits the leg.
50:36Caruso gets on the ground.
50:37And then that was kicked by Gordon.
50:40And also Gordon is grabbing his left hamstring.
50:43Boy, that was a fortunate play for Denver that that was kicked by Gordon.
50:48Otherwise, that was going to be a dunk for the Thunder in transition.
50:51All of that was started with up-the-floor pressure
50:54and denying Jamal Murray the inbounds pass.
50:56So you were forced to throw the ball into a secondary ball handler.
51:00Three turnovers in a minute by Denver.
51:03SGA driving into traffic, swinging.
51:06Williams, they need it.
51:08He misses again.
51:09He's three for 16.
51:10Defensive rebound Murray.
51:14Just six points for Jalen Williams.
51:16That would have made it a six-point game.
51:18Westbrook attacking.
51:19Gets the layup.
51:25A five-point swing.
51:27Fjoda's Alexander gets the layup,
51:30but they can't keep trading twos with just outside a minute to go.
51:35Jokic fouled in midcourt.
51:38And he'll shoot two more.
51:41And Russell Westbrook makes a great decision here.
51:45The best way to beat extended pressure is pick a direction and just go.
51:50OKC is so extended trying to pressure all over the floor,
51:54there's just not a lot of weak side help
51:56if you can beat your man off the dribble and get to the rim.
51:59Mark Dagnall is challenging the ruling on the floor of a foul on Caruso,
52:03which is his fifth.
52:09Back in a moment.
52:10Oklahoma City has called a timeout to initiate the coach's challenge
52:13on a foul that says Caruso.
52:18Mark Dagnall, foul on Alex Caruso.
52:21And so now Koliokic at the line for two more free throws.
52:27Denver is one minute and ten seconds away from forcing a game seven.
52:31It would be the third straight series for the Denver Nuggets that has gone seven.
52:35They beat the Clippers in game seven here at home in the first round.
52:39And at home last year in the conference semifinals,
52:42they drew a 20-point lead and lost to Minnesota in game seven.
52:46This one would be on the road in Oklahoma City Sunday afternoon on ABC.
52:5526 points for the three-time MVP.
52:58First player ever to finish in the top three in points, rebounds,
53:02and assists in a single season.
53:04Historic regular season, but he might not win the MVP
53:07because this guy, Shea Gildas Alexander, the front runner.
53:11Jalen Williams in the corner.
53:13Skip to Caruso.
53:15Caruso for three.
53:16It's good.
53:17115-107.
53:21And Westbrook will call a timeout.
53:24That will leave Denver with one.
53:26Oklahoma City has one as well.
53:29Really good defensive possession by Denver.
53:31They were all over the floor, multiple closeouts,
53:35and eventually no choice here but for Caruso to let this fly.
53:40And he's not nearly as good from the three off the dribble,
53:43but he knocks that one down with good contest there by Jamal Murray.
53:48Denver has had a lot of trouble just getting into its offensive set.
53:53Also having trouble inbounding the ball multiple times here.
53:58Anything you can do strategically to change that to help out your inbounder?
54:04Well, one thing, you know,
54:05they like to have Jokic inbound the ball a lot in this situation
54:08because they trust him so much.
54:09He's a great passer.
54:10He's got size.
54:11He can get it anywhere on the court.
54:13But I also think I would like to design something
54:16where he is the first recipient of the inbound
54:18because where the ball goes next is going to determine that possession.
54:22There's going to be an initial trap.
54:23I don't think OKC fouls immediately.
54:26I would like Jokic to receive the inbound pass
54:28so he can then get it to point B, get the ball up the floor
54:32and away from this pressure.
54:33And is there enough time if you're the funder to play this out
54:36or do you have to foul after the first or second pass at this point?
54:39I think you get one trap and they're so good
54:43at the way they play passing lanes with all of their speed.
54:47A trap, try to read a passing lane on that first pass.
54:50If you can't get it, then you take a foul.
54:52All of that will take no more than about five seconds.
54:55You can throw it into the backcourt here because of the timeout.
54:59They're inbounding the ball in the frontcourt
55:01and it is Jokic that's the recipient of the pass
55:04and he gets fouled.
55:06He'll go back to the line.
55:11Jalen Williams called for the foul.
55:13Yeah, and he has a look on his face.
55:15I don't think they were necessarily trying to foul.
55:17They were trying to do exactly what they did.
55:20This is a really tough spot for Jokic to end up with the ball in a trap.
55:24But he's so big and he can get it to the weak side if he had to.
55:27That's why I like the ball coming into him to make free throws
55:32or out of the trap, get it to the other side of the floor.
55:36Shea coming back on the court.
55:38There was a critical juncture at the end of the first half.
55:41Shea Gilgis-Alexander picked up his fourth foul.
55:44At that point, Denver was already making a move.
55:46They were down 12.
55:47But when he went to the bench, the Thunder couldn't score
55:50and Denver ended up tying the game before a dart three at the buzzer.
55:55This game was tied then at 80 apiece until Julian Strother went off.
56:00Jokic makes a boat back to a ten-point game.
56:02Thunder has to hurry.
56:04Fifty seconds left.
56:10Joe gets some airspace.
56:12Three is off the mark.
56:13Rebound Brown.
56:14And a foul.
56:16Forty seconds away from a game seven.
56:23And the crowd here in Denver.
56:26A standing ovation for the 2023 NBA champs.
56:30They like their team's chances in a one-game scenario.
56:35Who should be more nervous going into that game?
56:37A team that's been there like Denver?
56:39A 68-win team like Oklahoma City that hasn't been there?
56:43Well, you play all year to earn that game when you're home court.
56:46They did that.
56:47That whole crowd is electric.
56:48They only lost six games in the regular season there.
56:50But it's a young team.
56:52They got knocked out in the second round a year ago.
56:55They'll be facing that level of pressure at home.
56:58And you've got some guys that haven't shot the ball well,
57:00particularly tonight.
57:02And in the case of Jalen Williams,
57:03throughout the entire series,
57:05they're going to be asked now to make big shots in front of the home crowd.
57:10There's going to be a lot of tension if you see guys string together some
57:14misses.
57:15So Denver's dealt with this.
57:16They're a champion.
57:17Oklahoma City trying to get there.
57:21119-107.
57:23Oklahoma City has emptied the bench.
57:25Sheik Yotis Alexander, by the way, has played in one game seven.
57:28And that was in the bubble back in 2020.
57:34The Denver Nuggets with an impressive fourth quarter.
57:39Jamal Murray playing through illness.
57:43Goes for 42 minutes.
57:45Scores 25 points.
57:47Nikola Jokic 29 points.
57:4914 rebounds.
57:50Eight assists.
57:52Really was aggressive in the second half after a quiet first half.
57:55But Julian Strother.
57:57Denver's not here without the second year pro out of Gonzaga,
58:01who played sparingly during the regular season.
58:04Also dealt with some injuries.
58:07But was a star here tonight.
58:12We've got a game seven in the west.
58:17Sunday afternoon on ABC in Oklahoma City.
58:21One game to decide who will join Minnesota in the conference finals
58:25between the Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
58:38And let's check in with Katie George.
58:40Thanks, Dave.
58:41Jamal, what's it like playing under the weather in an elimination game
58:44and providing a much-needed 25 points for your team?
58:47I'm just glad we won.
58:49We brought the right energy needed.
58:51They're a good team.
58:52They stuck with it.
58:53But we gave ourselves life to go to OKC and win the game.
58:56When you woke up this morning,
58:57was there any chance you didn't play in this game?
59:00Absolutely not.
59:02You and Jokic do what you normally do,
59:04but you got huge performances from Christian Brown,
59:06Julian Strother off the bench.
59:08How impactful were your role players tonight?
59:10Amazing.
59:11Like I said, they brought the right energy.
59:13Not just making shots, but their intent, their focus,
59:15their awareness on what's going on around them.
59:17We needed every much of it.
59:19We're going to need more.
59:21Tonight's just another step in the right direction,
59:23but we've got a huge game in two days.
59:25Best of luck in game seven.
59:27Two days rest, Katie.
59:28They'll play Sunday afternoon on ABC in Oklahoma City
59:33for the right-to-face Minnesota in the Western Conference Finals.
59:37For Tim Legler, Katie George, your entire outstanding ESPN crew,
59:40I'm Dave Fasch saying so long from Denver.
59:43SportsCenter is up next.
59:45Highlights of this game.
59:46A look ahead to game six tomorrow night on ESPN
59:48between the Knicks and Celtics,
59:50and game seven between the Thunder and Denver in OKC on Sunday.
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