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NBA playoffs results and takeaways: Aaron Gordon once again stepped up in crunch time, draining a pivotal three-pointer with under 30 seconds left in regulation to tie things up against the Oklahoma City Thunder. His clutch shot helped push the Denver Nuggets into overtime, where they surged ahead with a 113-104 victory in Game 3. The win gave Denver a 2-1 edge in the Western Conference Semifinals an important rebound following a tough loss earlier in the week.
Although Oklahoma City managed to contain Nikola Jokić, holding him to 20 points and forcing eight turnovers, the Nuggets found their rhythm late. Jamal Murray led the way with 27 points, adding eight assists and four boards. Denver’s seasoned approach in pressure situations proved the difference, especially in overtime where they opened with a 7-0 run that Oklahoma City couldn’t overcome.
The Thunder, while youthful and talented, struggled to execute during high-stakes moments. Their offense faltered late, unlike Denver’s dependable Murray-Jokić combination that clicked when it mattered most. Despite not being the deeper or flashier team, the defending champions leaned on experience and composure to put themselves just two wins away from advancing.
Lu Dort’s Defensive Grit Undermined by Offensive Woes
Lu Dort continued to fulfill his role as Oklahoma City’s primary defensive stopper on Jamal Murray, often making life difficult for the Nuggets’ star. However, Dort’s offensive performance was hard to ignore, as it was evident he struggled throughout. He finished with only 3 points, misfiring on all four of his attempts from beyond the arc.
Once a reliable floor spacer in the regular season where he shot over 41% from three Dort has seen his shooting dip dramatically in the postseason. On Friday, his offensive confidence appeared shaken, passing up shots and missing relatively easy looks. Because of this, the Thunder turned to Alex Caruso in a crucial moment during the final stretch of the fourth quarter.
Dort eventually fouled out with just 36 seconds left in overtime, but the game had already slipped out of reach by then. While his defensive value remains high and could even earn him All-Defensive Team honors, Oklahoma City will need more from him offensively to stay competitive in this series.
Cavaliers Dominate Pacers in Game 3 Behind Mitchell’s 43-Point Explosion
In a much-needed turnaround performance, the Cleveland Cavaliers secured their first win of the series with a commanding 126-104 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis. Donovan Mitchell took charge with an incredible 43-point performance, helping reduce the Pacers’ series lead to 2–1.
Cleveland benefited from the return of several key players Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and De’Andre Hunter-all of whom had missed time due to injuries. Though Garland dealt with foul trouble and scored just 10, his presence helped stabilize the team. Mobley made a significant contribution, finishing with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and adding a strong presence across assists, steals, and blocks.
Indiana managed to claw back after a sluggish start and even briefly led in the second quarter. However, their offensive rhythm disappeared down the stretch. Tyrese Haliburton, who previously hit a game-winner in Game 2, had an off night, finishing with only 4 points.
This was a complete and cohesive effort by the Cavs, who showed resilience and composure after facing criticism for their early series struggles. With their stars healthy and momentum shifting, Cleveland appears to have new life in what could be a tightly contested series moving forward.
Game Summary: Cavaliers Take Advantage of Pacers’ Mistakes in Critical Playoff Clash.
After missing two weeks, Darius Garland returned to action but faced a challenging start to the game. He shot just 3-of-11 in the opening half, picked up four fouls, and appeared to tweak an injury in the third quarter before rejoining the action. Although he tallied 10 points by the end of the night, he also committed four turnovers, reflecting his discomfort under the Pacers’ defensive pressure.
On the Pacers’ side, De’Andre Hunter had a quiet night, going 2-for-6 from the field and scoring eight points in 20 minutes. He’s reportedly still dealing with a swollen thumb, though it’s unclear how much that’s affecting his performance. More concerning for Indiana is the continued underperformance of their second unit. The Cleveland bench outperformed Indiana’s, notably driven by Bennedict Mathurin’s explosive 23-point performance and T.J. McConnell’s 12-point contribution. Meanwhile, Ty Jerome continues to struggle for the Cavs, leading to Sam Merrill picking up some of his minutes, a move made by coach Kenny Atkinson.
Despite securing a comfortable lead, the Cavaliers watched as Indiana cut the gap to just 11 points in the final period. However, Donovan Mitchell took control, dropping 14 points in the final period to prevent any late-game collapse similar to what happened in Game 2.
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Rebounding Woes Continue for Indiana
Indiana’s issues on the boards were once again evident. After stressing the need for better rebounding following Game 2, the Pacers fell short. They managed only two offensive rebounds in the first half compared to Cleveland’s 13, resulting in a 21-4 disparity in second-chance points. By game’s end, Indiana had only four offensive boards and gave up too many second-chance opportunities to the Cavs – a key factor in the outcome.
Shooting Slump from Long Range
Three-point shooting was another area of concern for Indiana. The team struggled to find its rhythm from beyond the arc, converting just 5-of-18 in the first half and at one point missing 13 consecutive attempts. Their shooting woes persisted into the second half, finishing the game with a 9-of-30 mark from deep.
Haliburton Held in Check
Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who had hit the game-winning shot in Game 2, couldn’t replicate his magic on Friday night. He posted just four points-his lowest playoff output to date- while shooting 2-of-8 from the floor. He added only five assists in a performance well below his usual standard.
Haliburton had previously sustained a wrist injury during Game 2, where he underwent an in-game X-ray before returning with his wrist heavily bandaged. Though he downplayed the issue during Thursday’s practice, the tape was visible again on Friday, possibly hindering his effectiveness.
The loss marked Haliburton’s first playoff defeat at home while in the Pacers lineup. Before Friday, Indiana was 9-0 in such games. The only other home postseason losses in the past two years occurred during last season’s sweep by Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals, when Haliburton missed the final two games due to a hamstring injury. Following the 22-point loss, the Pacers chose not to make Haliburton available for postgame comments.
