Gilgeous-Alexander, young Thunder look to take major step in Game 7 vs. Nuggets

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder have reached a moment of truth.

The youngest team in league history to win at least 60 regular-season games can validate that success when it hosts Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals on Sunday.

It's a big deal for a Thunder team that lost to Dallas in the conference semifinals last year as the No. 1 seed in the West.

“It’s do or die,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after losing Game 6 in Denver. “It’s what you live for, it’s what you worked your whole life for. It’s either your team continues or your dream ends. So, you lay it all out there on the floor and you live with the results.”

The winner advances to play Minnesota in the Western Conference finals, starting Tuesday.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said the team's approach will not change, even with all that is at stake. After all, Oklahoma City won a league-best 68 games in the regular season.

“It’s recurring themes that you just revisit in these situations, and if you need new material in these situations, then your material was wrong in the first place," he said.

Gilgeous-Alexander, an MVP finalist, has returned to form after a slow offensive start in the series. He is averaging 28.8 points. 7.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists while shooting 51% from the field in the six games.

Gilgeous-Alexander will face a Denver squad that won the NBA title in 2023 and notched a Game 7 victory this season in the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers.

“We’ve got to do what we’ve been doing in the series," Denver interim coach David Adelman said. "We’ve got to hang early and then rely on our chemistry and the fact that we’ve been around each other for a long time. That’s where experience can really help you.”

Jokic, a three-time MVP and a finalist this year, has had two great games in the series and three that are below his standards. He had 42 points and 22 rebounds in Game 1, a Nuggets win in Oklahoma City. He had 44 points and 15 rebounds in a Game 5 loss.

In the three games in between, he shot 33% from the field and his scoring average dipped to 21.3.

One of Jokic's most important helpers might not play. Adelman said Aaron Gordon, a key player for Denver throughout the playoffs, will be a game-time decision with a left hamstring injury. The versatile 6-foot-8 forward hit the dramatic game winner in Game 1. He has averaged 14.5 points and 9.2 rebounds in the series while shooting 45% from 3-point range.

Thunder forward Chet Holmgren said the Thunder won't worry about things out of their control.

“It’s going to come down to who’s willing to really execute and win each possession all throughout the game,” he said. "You can’t worry about winning the game, you’ve got to win a possession first and then worry about the next one. That’s what we’ve we got to do, that’s what they’re going to try and do, and we've got to do (it) better.”

When/Where to Watch: Game 7, 3:30 p.m. EDT (ABC)

Series: Tied, 3-3

BetMGM says: Thunder by 8.5.

What to Know: With the two MVP candidates possibly canceling each other out, the supporting stars likely will be critical in Game 7. Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams was an All-Star this season, but he has struggled the last three games, shooting a combined 10 for 43 from the field. He’s capable of breaking out, as he did with a 32-point effort in Game 3. But he’s only averaging 16.5 points and shooting 33.7% from the field in the series, way down from his regular-season numbers. Denver’s Jamal Murray hasn’t shot his best in the series either, but he overcame an illness to score 25 points and be a critical factor in Denver’s Game 6 win. He’s up and down, but if the good version of him shows up, Oklahoma City could be in trouble.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, drives past Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein in the first half of Game 6 in the Western Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, struggles to control the ball as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defends in the second half of Game 6 in the Western Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun defends in the second half of Game 6 in the Western Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun defends in the second half of Game 6 in the Western Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Dallas (7-8-1) at N.Y. Giants (3-13)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox

BetMGM NFL Odds: Cowboys by 3 1/2

Against the spread: Cowboys 7-9; Giants 7-8-1

Series record: Dallas leads 78-47-2.

Last week: Cowboys beat Commanders 30-23; Giants beat Raiders 34-10.

Last meeting: Dallas beat Washington 40-37 in OT on Sept. 14.

Cowboys offense: overall (1), rush (9), pass (1), scoring (4)

Cowboys defense: overall (30), rush (t20), pass (32), scoring (32)

Giants offense: overall (15), rush (6), pass (21), scoring (21)

Giants defense: overall (29), rush (30), pass (20), scoring (26)

Turnover differential: Cowboys minus-8; Giants minus-3

QB Dak Prescott has a 14-game winning streak against the Giants since two of his losses in a 13-3 rookie season in 2016 came against them. It’s the second-longest winning streak against a single opponent in NFL history behind Bob Griese, who beat Buffalo 17 consecutive times from 1968-79. Prescott will get credit for a Dallas victory because he is expected to start. The question is how long he will play in a finale with no playoff implications. Either way, this will go down as one of Prescott’s best seasons. He enters the final week first in the NFL with 4,482 yards passing.

WR Wan'Dale Robinson gets to put the finishing touches on his case for a new contract, either with the team that drafted him or elsewhere. Robinson last week became the first player 5-foot-8 or shorter to eclipse 1,000 yards receiving since 5-7 Richard Johnson in 1989 and just the third since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. And he's playing against a Dallas secondary without Trevon Diggs, who was released on Tuesday.

Cowboys' offensive line vs. Giants' pass rush. New York's Brian Burns trails only Cleveland record-chasing Myles Garrett in sacks with a career-high 16 1/2, while rookie Abdul Carter has heated up with 3 1/2 over the past four games. Dallas would like to keep Prescott upright, no matter how long he plays.

Cowboys: RBs Javonte Williams (stinger) and Malik Davis (calf/eye) have been ruled out. The backs with a chance to be active have 54 career carries among them: FB Hunter Luepke (32) and rookies Jaydon Blue (22) and Phil Mafah (0). Mafah has been out all season with a shoulder injury, and is listed as questionable ... LB DeMarvion Overshown and rookie CB Shavon Revel have been dealing with concussions and won't play.

Giants: Two starters in the secondary are out: CB Cor'Dale Flott (knee) and S Jevon Holland (knee/concussion).

The Cowboys have won nine in a row against the Giants and 16 of the past 17. It's the longest active series in the league. Dallas' last winning streak this long was against Carolina from 1998-2012. ... Each team has been eliminated from playoff contention. ... The Cowboys are trying to avoid consecutive losing seasons for the first time since going 5-11 under coach Dave Campo from 2000-02. ... New York can still secure the top draft pick with a loss and Las Vegas victory against Kansas City or could drop as low as No. 7. ... This is expected to be interim coach Mike Kafka's final game with the Giants.

Cowboys WR George Pickens needs 80 yards receiving to reach 1,500 in his Dallas debut after the offseason trade from Pittsburgh. His only 1,000-yard season in three years with the Steelers came in 2023, when he had 1,140. … Ferguson needs one touchdown catch to tie the franchise tight end record of nine, held by Jason Witten and Billy Joe Dupree. … In their Week 2 game, K Brandon Aubrey had a tying 64-yard field goal on the final play of regulation and a winning 46-yarder as time expired in overtime in the 40-37 Dallas victory. ... Giants rookie QB Jaxson Dart has accounted for 22 TDs (13 passing and nine rushing) with just five interceptions, in his first 11 professional starts. ... Robinson led the team with 113 yards receiving at Las Vegas. He had 142 in Week 2 at Dallas, which was before top receiver Malik Nabers was knocked out for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee. ... LB Bobby Okereke intercepted Geno Smith and had seven tackles last week. ... CB Deonte Banks returned a kickoff 95 yards for a TD against the Raiders.

Daily fantasy players might be able to cash in if Giants RB Tyrone Tracy has another big game rushing and receiving.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

FILE - Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is sacked by Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sept. 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson, File)

FILE - Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) carries the ball after reception during a NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sept. 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson, File)