Game 7. Say it to me, NBA fans. There’s nothing quite like it. Nikola Jokic‘s Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder have battled tooth and nail for six epic games. And now it all comes down to this: one game, winner takes all, with a trip to the Western Conference Finals hanging in the balance. The energy is going to be off the charts, the pressure immense. After the Nuggets staved off elimination with a gutsy Game 6 win at home, the series shifts back to OKC. And you just know the Paycom Center is going to be an absolute madhouse.
Before we even get to the X’s and O’s, the biggest question on every fan’s mind, especially if you’re rocking Nuggets blue and gold, is the health of their key guys. Playoff basketball is a war of attrition, and after a bruising series, every bump, every tweak, every grimace gets magnified. So, what’s the latest on the injury front as we head into this colossal Game 7 showdown? Will the Joker be ready to deal?
Nuggets injury report: Joker ready to roll
Alright, Nuggets fans, let’s get the big one out of the way first. The main man, the back-to-back-to-back (in our hearts, anyway!) MVP, Nikola Jokic? He is NOT on the injury report. That’s right, we expect the Joker to be in the lineup, ready to orchestrate the offense and probably pull off some physics-defying passes. After putting up 29 points and 14 rebounds in the Game 6 win, despite what some might call a “quiet” series by his otherworldly standards, having a healthy Jokic is obviously paramount for Denver’s chances.
Now, for the news that’s got everyone in Denver a bit on edge: Aaron Gordon, AG, who’s been an absolute warrior for the Nuggets all postseason, tweaked his left hamstring late in that Game 6 victory. He came up gimpy after diving for a loose ball and was clearly in discomfort.
Apr 19, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) at the free throw line during overtime against the LA Clippers at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
According to Tony Jones of The Athletic, officials expect to list Gordon as questionable for Sunday’s Game 7. After the game, Nuggets interim coach David Adelman didn’t hide his worry, stating the concern for Gordon was “high.” He did mention the two-day break before Game 7 was a “nice” thing to have, giving AG time for treatment.
Gordon himself, however, sounded a bit more optimistic, telling Tim MacMahon, “I feel OK. We’ll see. I’m going to start the recovery process now and make sure I’m getting ready for Game 7.” That’s the kind of talk Nuggets fans want to hear, but hamstrings are tricky, and his availability will be a massive storyline right up until tip-off. It’s worth noting that Michael Porter Jr. is also still battling that shoulder injury, so the Nuggets are definitely a bit banged up.
On the flip side, the Oklahoma City Thunder are coming into this Game 7 with a clean bill of health. No injuries reported. That’s a significant advantage for a young, athletic team looking to close out the defending champs on their home floor.
Game 7 showdown: legacies, MVPs, and everything on the line
So, what’s really on the line here, besides just moving on to the Western Conference Finals? We’re talking about everything: reputations, how we remember these guys, money, jobs, the whole nine yards. This isn’t just another game; for some of these dudes, this is the kind of game that can define a career.
For the Nuggets, this is almost old hat, right? These guys have been in more Game 7s over the last seven years than any other team, and they’ve got a pretty solid 4-2 record when their backs are against the wall. Coach Adelman’s trying to keep it chill, saying, “Every game is its own chapter, its own entity.” But come on, after the rollercoaster of firing their coach and GM right before the playoffs? Winning a Game 7 on the road to crash the Conference Finals? That would be absolutely legendary, a massive shot in the arm for a season that looked like it was on shaky ground just a little while ago. Losing now? That’d be a rough ending to a wild ride.
Apr 6, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) during the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Then you got this young Thunder squad. This is brand new territory for them. They were the top dog in the West and won a crazy 68 games. It looked like they were going to steamroll everyone. If they lose this, after being up in the series, it’s going to be a heartbreaker. Yeah, they’re young, so it’s not like their window is closing, but you know they don’t want to hear about “moral victories.” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said it perfectly: “It’s do or die. It’s what you live for.” These guys are here to prove they’re not just the future; they’re ready to take over right now.
And you can’t talk Game 7 without talking about the MVP battle between Jokic and SGA. The official trophy voting is over, but this? This is where legends are made. The whole basketball world is tuned in to see these two, probably the top two guys for the award, go at it with everything on the line.
Can Jokic, who always seems to find another gear in Game 7s (he’s putting up like 24 points and 15 boards in these things!), pick apart OKC’s defense one last time? Can he carry this team, especially if AG is out or not himself? And for Shai, this is the biggest game of his life. Does he try to score 50, or does he trust his guys to hit the big shots? And will the refs give him those superstar calls when he’s driving through a forest of arms? The answers to those questions? That’s probably gonna decide who wins this whole thing.
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