OKLAHOMA CITY – The noise inside Paycom Center assaults the senses. Thunder rolls. Thunder strikes.
In the middle of it stands Nikola Jokic, the man with scratches on his arms and fury in his belly. He turned Loud City into OK City. Ho-hum. Shrugged shoulders. Can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander MVP voters hear him now?
In their most important moment since winning a championship, it took the Nuggets all of Game 1 to dispatch the NBA’s best team. Aaron Gordon delivered the improbable 121-119 victory over the Thunder with a 25-foot jump shot with three seconds remaining.