Aaron Gordon embraced dirty work and a cerebral reexamination of basketball, enlightened by Nikola Jokic. His gratitude for that transformation was so immense that he once bought Jokic a massive

The Denver Nuggets upset the Oklahoma City Thunder, 121-119, on Monday night thanks to a game-winning three-pointer by Aaron Gordon, and now hold a 1-0 series lead in their Western Conference semifinal matchup.

Aaron Gordon's three-pointer lifted the Nuggets in Game 1 against the Thunder, and Nikola Jokic had plenty of nice things to say about Gordon.

Nine out of 10 people would say that the Denver Nuggets are Nikola Jokic’s team. But if you ask Jokic, he would say someone else is more vital. Speaking to ESPN on Monday night following Aaron Gordon’s triumphant three-pointer that gave the Nuggets Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder,

Nikola Jokic looked quite human in the 43-point deficit, which absolutely cannot be blamed on officiating. But his teammate Aaron Gordon had some thoughts on the way the Nuggets star has been treated.

The Nuggets’ three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who is again a finalist for the award, had 42 points, 22 rebounds and six assists. He scored 18 points in the fourth quarter and was 15-for-29 from the field and 10-for-13 on free throws.

That is how Aaron Gordon reacted to Nikola Jokic fouling out in the third period for the first time in his career. That it came in Game 2 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the top-seeded Thunder made it even more exasperating.

Nuggets playoff star Aaron Gordon had a heated exchange with Thunder guard Alex Caruso during Game 6 of their playoff series.

Aaron Gordon drained a 3-pointer with four seconds left to cap ... Monday's game at Paycom Center in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic battled foul trouble but was a bear to defend, fueling Denver's comeback.

Barkley pointed out how Jokic's statistical excellence makes him very important to the Nuggets. The center averaged a triple-double during the regular season, and while Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to win the league MVP award this year, many still consider Jokic the best player in the world.