Preview capsule on the Oklahoma City-Denver Western Conference semifinal series that starts Monday:
Season series: Tied, 2-2.
Schedule: Game 1 at Oklahoma City, Monday; Game 2 at Oklahoma City, Wednesday; Game 3 at Denver, Friday; Game 4 at Denver, Sunday; Game 5 at Oklahoma City, TBD (if necessary); Game 6 at Denver, TBD (if necessary); Game 7 at Oklahoma City, TBD (if necessary).
How they got here: The Thunder and Nuggets took decidedly different routes to reach the second round. Oklahoma City swept Memphis and hasn't played since Game 4 of that series on April 26. Denver had to go the distance against the Los Angeles Clippers and enters this series with just one day of rest after its 120-101 victory in Game 7 at home on Saturday night.
Story line: The likely top-two finishers in the NBA MVP race square off as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder take on three-time winner Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. Jokic, who became the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double for the season, also did it against the Thunder with 24.5 points, 15.8 rebounds and 11.5 assists per game. Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA's leading scorer with 32.7 points per game, averaged 30.3 against Denver.
Key matchup: Oklahoma City's Lu Dort and Gilgeous-Alexander against Denver's Jamal Murray. In a big series for Canadians, the play of these three guards from there could determine how much scoring help Jokic gets from his point guard. Murray shot 10 for 30 and averaged 14.5 points in the Thunder's two victories, but went for 34 points when Denver won in Oklahoma City on March 10. Oklahoma City can also bring Alex Caruso off the bench to take turns on Murray.
X-factor: Russell Westbrook. Westbrook reliably put up big numbers when he was an All-Star and MVP for the Thunder but now his performances fluctuate wildly, and look no further than his lines this season against his original team for proof. In an opening-night loss, six points on 2-for-10 shooting. When Denver stopped Oklahoma's City 8-0 start to the season on Nov. 6, 29 points on 10-for-15 shooting. That was followed by a 1-for-9, four-point effort in Oklahoma City's other victory, followed by 16 points while going 6 for 10 in a Denver win in the final matchup.
Prediction: Thunder in 5.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reacts after making a basket during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies, Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, looks to pass the ball as Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicolas Batum, right, defends in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) pushes past Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) during the second half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers have little to play for in Week 18, which raises the question of whether quarterback Justin Herbert should take the field in the regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos and their league-leading pass rush.
Coach Jim Harbaugh said after a 20-16 loss to the Houston Texans on Saturday he hadn’t thought about it yet. Herbert talked as if he expects to play. But if the Chargers (11-5) are going to have any meaningful chance to win in the wild-card round and be a real threat in the playoffs, they need Herbert at full strength, which might require holding him out of the game.
Everything that transpired against the Texans and their elite defensive line indicated the best way to ensure the Chargers QB is ready for the postseason would be to sit him.
Herbert was sacked five times and hit eight times as the offensive line showed its one week revival in Dallas was indeed more the result of the Cowboys defense.
Herbert was under siege, as he could be in Denver. The Broncos are averaging four sacks per game, with outside linebackers Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper combining for 20 1/2 sacks this season. And with the top seed in the AFC, a first-round bye and home-field advantage all at stake, that defense will have plenty of incentive to go all-out.
Already playing with a surgically repaired non-throwing hand, Herbert went to the sideline with that left hand and arm dangling after being sacked on the first drive of the game against the Texans.
Fortunately for the Chargers, he was able to keep playing without issue, showcasing Herbert’s immense importance in trying to rally the Chargers out of an early 14-0 deficit.
“I mean, every week he does things that are reserved for only the best in the game — heroic,” Harbaugh said. “It’s just the kind of competitor he is, and so many feed off of him, we all feed off him. I kind of ran out of superlatives, really.”
Herbert is what makes the Chargers go. He is the main reason they are back in the playoffs in spite of constant uncertainty at the offensive tackle spots caused by injuries to starters Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt. Herbert’s ability to keep making plays with his arm and legs despite being one of the most hit quarterbacks in the NFL has Los Angeles with consecutive 11-win seasons for just the third time in franchise history.
Herbert has been the on-field avatar of Harbaugh’s competitive philosophy, “attacking everything with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind,” as Harbaugh described it at his introductory news conference in February 2024.
“Every game is the most important,” Herbert said when asked about the significance of facing the Broncos. “You dive into it and you give it your all each week. I’ve got no doubt that this team will do that again next week.”
That mindset is what might lead to Herbert playing in Denver, with the intention of trying to establish some momentum.
Herbert was 21 of 32 for 236 yards, one touchdown and an interception, while also leading the team with 37 yards rushing.
The typically sturdy Chargers secondary had major issues on its first two drives, which ended up costing the team the game. CB Donte Jackson tried to pass off Jayden Higgins, but there was no safety help, resulting in a 75-yard touchdown pass. Jaylin Noel followed that up with a 43-yard scoring catch coming across the field against S Elijah Molden.
WR Quentin Johnston kick-started the Chargers offense with a 60-yard catch and finished with five receptions for 98 yards. If the growth he has shown in the first two seasons of the Harbaugh era continues, Johnston can cement himself as the dominant passing game option outside the numbers Herbert has needed.
TE Oronde Gadsden II had two crucial drops, with one of them ending up being picked off by the Texans at the goal line late in the second quarter. The rookie did respond in the second half, finishing with three receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown.
The Chargers seemingly got through the game without further issue, but the absences of LT Jamaree Salyer (hamstring), return specialist Derius Davis (ankle), CB Benjamin St-Juste (shoulder) and rookie S R.J. Mickens (shoulder) all loomed large in the defeat.
68 — K Cameron Dicker had made all 68 field-goal attempts inside of 40 yards before missing a 32-yarder wide right late in the first half. Dicker also missed an extra point.
The Chargers face the Broncos next week. Los Angeles is 5-0 against the AFC West this season, including a 23-20 win over Denver on Sept. 21.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) is forced out of bounds by Houston Texans linebacker Henry To'Oto'O (39) and cornerback Tremon Smith (11) during the first half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, bottom left, is sacked by Houston Texans linebacker Henry To'Oto'O during the second half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) is sacked by Houston Texans defensive end Derek Barnett (95) during the second half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
