Nuggets Win In Overtime To Take Lead Over Thunder

The Denver Nuggets pulled distant successful overtime to return a 2-1 lead successful the best-of-seven NBA play-off semi-final against nan Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Thunder are nan apical seed successful nan Western Conference and were narrowly successful beforehand for astir of nan title earlier hosts Denver claimed a 113-104 win

There were nary much than 3 points betwixt nan teams passim nan 4th fourth until nan Thunder edged into a 102-99 lead wrong nan last 2 minutes.

Aaron Gordon's three-pointer pinch 27 seconds remaining took nan crippled into overtime, erstwhile nan Nuggets' acquisition told arsenic nan 2023 champions went connected an 11-2 tally successful nan further 5 minutes.

Jamal Murray led 4th seed Denver pinch 27 points while Gordon added 22 and Michael Porter Jr 21.

"They tested america each nighttime but it was a bully squad win," said Murray.

"We've been together for years truthful we knew what we had. We judge successful each different and we're going to request much of it."

Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic missed 17 of his 25 shots for Denver - who besides big crippled 4 connected Sunday - but claimed 20 points and 16 rebounds.

Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, nan favourite for this season's MVP award, missed 15 of 22 to decorativeness pinch 18 points, while Jalen Williams led Oklahoma City pinch 32.

In nan Eastern Conference semi-finals, nan Cleveland Cavaliers' best-of-seven bid pinch nan Indiana Pacers is besides 2-1 aft nan Cavs pulled a crippled back.

After losing nan first 2 games astatine home, apical seed Cleveland bounced backmost pinch Donovan Mitchell scoring 43 points successful a 126-104 triumph successful Indianapolis.

The Cavs outscored Indiana 34-13 in the second quarter to unfastened up a 66-45 lead astatine half-time, and they stayed clear to springiness themselves a chance to necktie nan bid in Indianapolis connected Sunday.

Max Strus added 20 points for Cleveland while Jarrett Allen claimed 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley added 18 points and 13 rebounds aft missing crippled 2 pinch an ankle problem.

"Down 2-0, it's kind of now or never," said Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson. "They showed a lot of fortitude."

Indiana's Bennedict Mathurin scored 23 points off the bench and Pascal Siakam added 18, while Tyrese Haliburton was limited to just four points as he was two-of-eight shooting.

"Haliburton had a rough game," said Rick Carlisle, coach of nan fourth-seeded Pacers.

"I have to do more to get him in better positions to have better shots."