The Oklahoma City Thunder erased a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter and stepped up in the clutch, taking down the Denver Nuggets with a 112-105 victory to secure a 3-2 series lead in the NBA Western Conference Semifinals on May 14.
Denver Nuggets Top Performers:
Nikola Jokic 44 PTS | 15 REB | 5 AST | 73.5 FPS
Jokić had a fantastic start, nearly recording a 20-point double-double in the first half alone. He was nothing but dominant on offense, finishing 17-of-25 from the field and 5-of-7 from three-point range to notch his second 40-point game of the series and the seventh of his playoff career. He also complemented his scoring with another big rebounding performance, posting his third game of the series with at least 15 rebounds. Despite the loss, this performance should help him build offensive momentum, and he’s likely to do everything he can to secure a win at home.
Jamal Murray 28 PTS | 4 REB | 3 AST | 36.3 FPS
Murray started slow but caught fire in the third, scoring 13 quick points in just 3 minutes. He finished with his second game in this series with at least 27 points but he was far from his best, attempting 27 shots. He also struggled badly from deep, shooting at 3-for-13. Despite the slump, he remains one of the best scorers in the playoffs, dropping 40+ points six times in his career including two 50-point games.
Aaron Gordon 13 PTS | 5 REB | 3 AST | 23.5 FPS
Gordon came out strong in the first half, scoring 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting. However, he was quiet for the rest of the game, going just 1-for-6 from the field and finishing 1-for-5 from three-point range. He had a similar performance in their Game 2 loss on the road. Despite that, he’s been a game changer in this series and should be able to bounce back strong in Game 6 at home.
Christian Braun 8 PTS | 7 REB | 2 BLK | 28.9 FPS
Braun had a good start in the first half but took a step back offensively in the second, going 0-for-2. Despite that, he remained productive with his perimeter defense and defensive stats. However, he hasn’t been very effective as a scorer, recording 11 points or fewer in four of the last five games. He’s also struggled from the three-point area, shooting just 8-for-31 in the series. They’ll need him to be sharper on offense, if they want to win another game.
Russell Westbrook 4 PTS | 4 REB | 3 AST | 14.3 FPS
Russ’s shooting struggles are impossible to ignore, going 1-for-7 today including missing badly on several attempts. He’s strung together three consecutive subpar performances after scoring at least 18 points in the first two games. They’ll need him to get going on offense if they want to avoid elimination.
Oklahoma City Thunder Top Performers:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 31 PTS | 6 REB | 7 AST | 55.7 FPS
SGA had a rough start, shooting just 2-for-9 from the field with four turnovers in the first 13 minutes. But he turned things around for the rest of the game, including scoring 10 points in the final 3:33 of the fourth quarter to help seal the win. He finished with his third 30-point performance of the series. His all-around brilliance has also been on full display, recording at least 12 combined rebounds and assists in each of the five games. If he can maintain this level of play in Game 6, they’re more than likely to move on to the next round.
Jalen Williams 18 PTS | 9 REB | 4 AST | 37.8 FPS
JDub had a much better offensive showing today after going 2-for-13 in Game 4. He’s been less productive in scoring in this series, averaging 18 points after going for 23 points against the Grizzlies. But he’ll remain a difference maker with his versatility and defense.
Chet Holmgren 14 PTS | 8 REB | 2 BLK | 33.1 FPS
Holmgren started with 9 points in the first half and came up big on the defensive side with two clutch blocks against Murray in the last four minutes of the fourth. His production will continue to be vital in this series, averaging a double-double with 3 stocks.
Isaiah Hartenstein 15 PTS | 7 REB | 1 STL | 31.4 FPS
Hartenstein has provided a complete stat-line in his last four games and had a very efficient performance today, finishing 7-for-10 from the field. He’s been a consistent all-around force in this series and should continue to do so in the upcoming games.
Alex Caruso 13 PTS | 4 REB | 2 AST | 18.8 FPS
Caruso had an exceptional two-way performance in Game 1, scoring 20 points with 5 threes and also racking up 7 stocks. However, he has had limited impact since then. With the team’s depth, his numbers are unlikely to see much improvement in the next games.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Michael Porter Jr. 2 PTS | 4 REB | 2 STL
MPJ still hasn’t found his rhythm on offense, shooting just 2-for-14 from the floor and 0-for-10 from three over his last two games. His shoulder injury still appears to be an issue after avoiding surgery and playing through it. However, he did have a strong performance in Game 3 at home, where he shot 7-for-10 from the field, and could potentially replicate that performance again in Game 6.
