The Oklahoma City Thunder had Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals against the Denver Nuggets in their grasp, leading 119-118 with 9.1 seconds left at a raucous Paycom Center on Monday night. Chet Holmgren, the Thunder’s rising star, stepped to the free-throw line with a chance to push the lead to three. The crowd was buzzing, the momentum was OKC’s, and a 1-0 series lead felt like a formality. But in a gut-wrenching twist, Holmgren clanked both free throws, and Denver’s Aaron Gordon made them pay, drilling a game-winning 3-pointer with 3.1 seconds left to steal a 121-119 victory. It was a punch to the gut for the Thunder, and Holmgren’s owning it as they gear up for a must-win Game 2. Let’s break down the collapse, Holmgren’s tough night, and why this young OKC squad has what it takes to bounce back.
The final minute of Game 1 was a masterclass in playoff chaos. OKC led 113-102 with 4:31 to go, thanks to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 33-point, 10-rebound, eight-assist gem and Alex Caruso’s 20-point, five-steal spark off the bench. But Denver, led by Nikola Jokić’s historic 42 points and 22 rebounds, clawed back. Jokić, battling foul trouble, dropped 18 points in the fourth, including a 3-pointer with a minute left that cut the lead to 115-114. The Thunder’s strategy to foul intentionally—hoping to prevent a game-tying shot—backfired. Alex Caruso fouled Jokić with 12.2 seconds left, and the big man sank both free throws to make it 117-116. After SGA’s dunk restored a three-point lead, Caruso fouled Gordon with 10.1 seconds to go, and Gordon’s two free throws trimmed it to 119-118. Then came Holmgren’s moment. Fouled by Russell Westbrook, he had a chance to ice it. Instead, both shots rimmed out, and Denver pounced. Christian Braun grabbed the rebound, Westbrook raced downcourt, and Gordon, left open on the left wing, swished the dagger over Holmgren’s late closeout.
Holmgren didn’t duck the blame. “I have to be better. I’m not one to shy [away] from accountability,” the 23-year-old said postgame, per Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman. “We worked too hard as a collective, and we’re too far along in this thing for situations like that to happen.” It’s the kind of response that shows why OKC believes in him. The No. 2 pick in 2022, Holmgren had a rough night, scoring 12 points on 5-for-11 shooting, missing all three of his 3-pointers, and grabbing six rebounds with four blocks in 28 minutes. His 2-for-4 free-throw performance was the killer, and social media let him have it. Posts on X were brutal, with one user writing, “Chet Holmgren gotta be having nightmares… missed game-winning FTs, game-winning three hit by Aaron Gordon over his head,” and another adding, “Dunked on by Gordon, misses clutch FTs, and gets gamed on. Brutal.”
But let’s not pile on too hard. Holmgren’s been a beast this postseason. In the first round against Memphis, he averaged 21.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks, shooting 50% from the field and 50% from three. His Game 3 explosion—24 points, including 16 in the third quarter—helped OKC sweep the Grizzlies. Against Denver, he faced a tougher test, battling Jokić and Isaiah Hartenstein’s physicality. His four blocks, including a chase-down on Jamal Murray, showed his defensive chops, but Gordon’s dunk over him and those missed free throws stole the spotlight. At 7 feet with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, Holmgren’s a game-changer, but at 195 pounds, he’s still learning to handle the playoff grind. His 38.1% free-throw shooting in the postseason (8-for-21) is a red flag, and coach Mark Daigneault admitted, “We’ve got to help him with his confidence at the line.”
The Thunder’s collapse wasn’t just on Holmgren. Daigneault’s decision to foul up three—twice in the final 12 seconds—drew heat. While he defended the strategy, saying it’s “worked out well for us in the past,” it backfired when OKC’s execution faltered. Fouling Gordon with 10.1 seconds left gave Denver free points, and Holmgren’s misses opened the door. Posts on X ripped the call, with one fan fuming, “Marc Daigneault is an idiot for playing the foul game with Chet Holmgren in the game.” OKC’s 20-for-28 free-throw performance (71.4%) paled next to Denver’s 30-for-37 (81.1%), and their 27 second-chance points allowed—many off Jokić’s 10 offensive boards—kept the Nuggets alive.
Still, this Thunder team is no pushover. Their 68-14 regular season and first-round sweep show they’re legit. SGA, a Kia MVP finalist, was electric, nearly notching a triple-double. Caruso’s five 3-pointers and five steals were a reminder of why OKC traded for him. Jalen Williams chipped in 16 points, and the bench—led by Aaron Wiggins and Jaylin Williams—helped OKC go 7-for-16 from deep in the second quarter after an 0-for-8 start. Denver’s a beast, though. Jokić’s 40-20-5 stat line put him in elite company (Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor), and Gordon’s 22 points and 14 rebounds, capped by his second game-winner this postseason, proved why he’s “Mr. Nugget.”
Game 2 on Wednesday is a chance for redemption. OKC’s top-rated defense—first in steals, deflections, and opponent turnovers—can swarm Jokić and Murray, who shot just 8-for-20. Holmgren, who’s only fouled out once in 132 NBA games, needs to stay aggressive without picking up cheap ones. SGA’s pumped for the challenge, saying, “We’re going to find out what we’re made of.” For Holmgren, it’s about shaking off the miss. He’s got the tools—length, skill, and now accountability—to grow from this. Fans on X are split, with some calling him “on fraud watch” but others urging patience: “Chet’s 23. He’ll come back stronger.”
The Thunder know the Nuggets, with their 2023 title pedigree, thrive in clutch moments. Those missed free throws and bad fouls were the difference, but OKC’s got the depth and heart to even this series before heading to Denver. Holmgren’s owning his mistake, SGA’s ready to lead, and Paycom Center will be rocking. This one hurt, but the Thunder’s story is far from over. Time to lace up and steal one back, OKC—Holmgren’s got some shots to redeem, and this team’s got a series to win.
