With just over two minutes remaining, the teams were locked in a fierce 100-100 tie. Nikola Jokić, the Nuggets’ star center, displayed his brilliance, scoring 44 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. His astounding three-pointer silenced the crowd and brought Denver back into contention, but the Thunder’s Shay Gilgeous-Alexander responded with poise, sinking a crucial fadeaway shot while drawing a foul, putting Oklahoma City ahead.