OKC Thunder storms past Nuggets in Game 7 to reach Western Conference finals
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After getting a steal late in the second quarter, Jalen Williams tested the breakaway rim with a viscous two-handed dunk.
The OKC forward then stood over the basketball while it bounced on the Paycom Center floor. And, with adrenaline coursing through his veins, he yelled at it.
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What Williams said, exactly, couldn't be heard over the deafening home crowd. Maybe that was for the best, but the ball shouldn't take it personally.
The real message was meant for Williams' critics, and there were plenty of them entering OKC's 125-93 home win over Denver in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals on Sunday.
Williams had struggled all series, averaging 16.5 points through the first six games. But he surpassed that number in the second quarter alone with 17 points.
Williams finished with 24 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also poured in a game-high 35 points and three steals, while Chet Holmgren added 13 points and 11 boards.
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No. 1-seeded OKC will now advance to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2016. It'll face No. 6 Minnesota.
Here are four more takeaways from the game:
CARLSON: With road to NBA championship wide open, OKC Thunder passes huge test bouncing Nuggets
The banged-up Nuggets struck first
Aaron Gordon, once known for his gravity-defying jams in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, only got a few inches off the ground when he elevated for a layup late in the first quarter.
It was the best the Denver forward could do as he played through a Grade 2 left hamstring strain that should've sidelined him for a month, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. But it was good enough.
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Gordon absorbed the contact from Cason Wallace and finished the and-one layup. That extended the lead to 21-10 for Denver, which struck first despite having numerous banged-up players.
Michael Porter Jr. continued to play through a Grade 2 shoulder sprain, which he said should've sidelined him for 4-6 weeks. Instead, the 26-year-old forward has been taking lidocaine shots to play through the pain.
Jamal Murray has also been battling an illness, and Russell Westbrook appeared on the injury report Saturday with a sprained right hand.
More: Why Queen's 'Don't Stop Me Now' is the OKC Thunder's victory anthem at Paycom Center
Depth was the difference as OKC ran away with the game
Jokic sat for the first 99 seconds of the second quarter.
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It was a brief break for the three-time MVP, who helped Denver build a 26-21 lead. But as he caught his breath, the Nuggets went lifeless.
OKC outscored Denver 8-0 during Jokic's absence. Isaiah Hartenstein capped off the scoring spree with a put-back dunk, and Nuggets head coach David Adelman was forced to burn a timeout so he could get his superstar center back in the game.
OKC claimed a 60-46 lead at halftime, and Denver's lack of depth was its downfall in the first two quarters. Its three bench players (Westbrook, Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther) combined for a plus-minus of negative-52.
OKC also played three guys off the bench in the first half: Alex Caruso, Aaron Wiggins and Wallace. They combined for a plus-minus of 45.
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More: How OKC Thunder's Isaiah Hartenstein improved as Nikola Jokic's backup with Nuggets
Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) hugs Denver's Russell Westbrook (4) after the Thunder eliminated the Nuggets with a 125-93 victory in Game 7 at Paycom Center on May 18.
OKC played its fast-paced style of basketball
Jamal Murray was in what could generously be described as a jog.
Christian Braun was slowly backtracking. And Gordon, to be fair, was hindered by a hamstring injury.
That wasn't a great formula for Denver, which struggled to get back on defense after Porter missed a 3-pointer midway through the third quarter. And OKC took advantage.
Williams snagged the board and zipped a pass to Wallace, who only had Jokic standing between him and the rim. He threw down a viscous one-handed dunk over the big man, causing Thunder fans to nearly tear the roof off of the Paycom Center.
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Plays like that fueled OKC in its blowout victory. The Thunder recorded 27 fastbreak points compared to the Nuggets' 14. It also forced 23 turnovers and converted them into 37 points.
MUSSATTO: Jalen Williams redeems himself in Game 7 of NBA Playoffs by fueling Thunder past Nuggets
OKC enters Western Conference finals as young, battle-tested squad
You know the stats. Pretty much everyone who follows the Thunder does.
OKC entered this season as the youngest team in the NBA. It's also the second-youngest team in league history to secure the No. 1 seed in either conference, trailing only itself from last season.
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OKC's youth is no secret. And it'll be the less-experienced team once again in its Western Conference finals series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who reached that stage last season.
The Thunder is still the new kid on the block, but it's no longer smooth-skinned and clean-shaven. It's a rugged group, covered in battle scars from a war of a series against the Nuggets.
Game 1 between OKC and Minnesota is set for 7:30 p.m. CT Tuesday in Oklahoma City (ESPN).
REQUIRED READING: OKC Thunder didn't 'leave anything on the table' in Game 7 smackdown of Denver Nuggets
Western Conference finals: Thunder vs. Timberwolves
Game 1: Minnesota at OKC | 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN)
Game 2: Minnesota at OKC | 7:30 p.m. Thursday (ESPN)
Game 3: OKC at Minnesota | 7:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC)
Game 4: OKC at Minnesota | 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 26 (ESPN)
Game 5 (If necessary): Minnesota at OKC | 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 28 (ESPN)
Game 6 (If necessary): OKC at Minnesota | 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 30 (ESPN)
Game 7 (If necessary): Minnesota at OKC | 7 p.m. Sunday, June 1 (ESPN)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder dismantles Denver Nuggets to advance in 2025 NBA Playoffs
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