From a spectator’s perspective, only one thing can be more exciting than a game seven in the NBA Playoffs, and that would be a game seven that goes down to the final shot. Sunday’s game seven for the Denver Nuggets started with high hopes for the recent NBA champions after pushing their second straight postseason appearance to seven games.

But nearing the end of the second quarter, the team would fall behind for the last time in the 2024-25 season, never to regain the lead. Hopes for a thrilling game seven vanished, along with the Nuggets’ hope for another push at a title.

The Oklahoma City Thunder did not question who was the number one seed in the Western Conference after their 125-93 win over the Nuggets at Paycom Center. Two MVP candidates went head to head, with Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder squaring off. Gilgeous-Alexander would also take the individual battle, finishing the game with 35 points, to Jokic’s 20 points.

“I was nervous, to be honest,” said Gilgeous-Alexander after the game. “Just knowing like what’s on the line... To know if you don’t bring your A game, it could all be over with, and all for nothing... I think that nervousness motivated me.”

The Thunder move on to the Western Conference Finals, where they face the Minnesota Timberwolves, who enter the series as the number six seed. The number four seed Nuggets’ season ends after a 50-32 regular season record in 2024-25, tied with the LA Lakers and Clippers. Oklahoma finished 18 games better in the Western Conference regular season at 68-14. The Nuggets will move forward with questions surrounding the positions of head coach and general manager and what changes will be necessary to get the roster to the next level again.

Following the loss in Oklahoma City, Nuggets’ interim coach David Adelman was asked about his future with the team. Adelman, 44, replaced Mike Malone for the final six games of the regular season and finished with a 3-3 record going into the playoffs as the fourth seed. The Nuggets were the only team to push both rounds of the playoffs to seven games, giving Adelman a 7-7 record in the playoffs for a 10-10 overall record.

“I don’t think it’s time for me to think about that,” Adelman asked if he deserved the position. “We just lost Game Seven. Our season’s over. Decision makers will make that decision. Blessed to have this opportunity to take the helm and lead this team. It’s something obviously, if I’m not back next year, I’ll obviously never forget this. It’s been an incredible experience. To have the buy-in from the guys was really special for me.”

Nuggets’ players did give Adelman their endorsement as they made their final statements about the season. Forward Aaron Gordon, who was questionable to play in Game Seven, did fight through a hamstring injury to play in the final game of the season for the Nuggets. Gordon played for 24 minutes, scoring eight points with 11 rebounds.

“I love D.A.,” said Gordon after the game. “I hope he’s here next year. I hope he’s our coach. I hope he gets an entire training camp, and a whole offseason, and a whole training camp to figure out his philosophy.”

The Nuggets will have the offseason to reevaluate their future and the teams. MVP candidate Nikola Jokic finished with one of the best seasons of his career in 2024-25. In 70 games this season, Jokic averaged 29.6 points per game, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, and 1.8 steals while shooting 57.6 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from beyond the arc in 36.7 minutes of action.

“I need to decide. There is a EuroBasket,” Jokic said about his offseason plans. “I need to talk with the coaches and some of the main players. And we will see. But for now, for the next couple of days, there will be a lot of beer probably.”

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