In Oklahoma City, Shy Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, leading the Thunder to a 112-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night. This win brings Oklahoma City to a 3-2 standing in the Western Conference Semi-Final Series.
The Thunder managed to overcome a strong performance by Denver’s Nikola Jokic, who scored 44 points.
Going forward, Oklahoma City aims to clinch the series in Denver on Thursday.
Gilgeous-Alexander had an impressive shooting night, making 12 of 23 attempts, bouncing back nicely after a slow start and guiding six teammates to double-digit scoring.
“Great players rise to the occasion when faced with challenges,” noted Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. “I felt he grew more composed as the game went on. Despite the increasing pressure, he kept his cool, played smart, and let the game unfold naturally.”
Jokic was sharp, hitting 17 out of 25 shots. Jamal Murray contributed 28 points for Denver, but his efficiency was off, making just 10 of 27 attempts. No other Nuggets player surpassed 13 points.
“This is a tough loss,” said Denver’s interim coach David Adelman. “Fans should be disappointed. It’s a significant setback, and we need to win Game 6 to come back strong.”
Oklahoma City started strong, taking a 12-2 lead, but it wasn’t a complete blowout like in Game 2.
Although Denver struggled early, hitting just one of their first nine shots, they managed to rally, taking a brief lead in the second quarter. However, the Thunder closed the half strong, trailing just 56-54 at halftime, with Jokic recording 19 points and nine rebounds before the break.
Murray scored 13 points in the third quarter while Jokic added 12, helping Denver to an 86-78 lead at one point.
“Whenever we had a chance to regain control, I felt like we missed opportunities, especially on transition plays,” Adelman reflected.
Oklahoma City’s Lu Dort, who had only three points through three quarters, hit three critical three-pointers in a span of two minutes, narrowing Denver’s lead to 92-90 in the fourth.
Jokic tied the game with a deep fadeaway three-pointer, but Oklahoma City took control down the stretch. A three-pointer by Jalen Williams put the Thunder ahead 106-103, followed by another from Gilgeous-Alexander that extended the lead to six with just 48 seconds left.
“We felt this was our moment in the playoffs during that final stretch,” Daigneault commented.
