The Oklahoma City Thunder faced a disappointing 121-119 defeat against the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of their playoff series. Despite leading for a significant portion of the second half, the Thunder couldn't seal the deal, ultimately losing to a clutch three-pointer from Aaron Gordon, assisted by Russell Westbrook. Chet Holmgren's missed free throws in the closing moments proved costly, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander nearly achieved a triple-double with 33 points, highlighting the game. Alex Caruso's bench performance added 20 points and five steals, but the Thunder’s other starters struggled, particularly Jalen Williams, who shot just 5-of-20 from the field. Nikola Jokic dominated for Denver with a massive 42-point, 22-rebound performance, supported by Gordon's 22 points and 14 rebounds. The series now sees OKC in an early 0-1 hole.