The Denver Nuggets started poorly in Sunday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their finish was even worse. The result was a 92-87 OKC victory that tied their Western Conference semifinal series at 2-2.
Denver scored only eight points in the first quarter as the Thunder built a 17-8 lead. The Nuggets rallied back with two strong quarters to take a 69-63 lead, but then the offense went dry in the fourth. Mistakes were made, including a 5-second violation coming out of a timeout, and Denver was outscored by 11 points in the final period.
Nikola Jokić led the way for Denver with 27 points and 13 rebounds, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paced OKC with 25 points.
Now the Thunder have regained the homecourt advantage as the series shifts to Oklahoma City for Game 5 on Tuesday.
In other action on Sunday, the Indiana Pacers play host to the Cleveland Cavaliers, with the Pacers holding a 2-1 series lead over the top-seed Cavs.
Nuggets 92, Thunder 87
(Series tied 2-2)
OKC handles the quick turnaround with ease
With less than 36 hours between Games 3 and 4, the question of rest vs. rhythm arose, but the Thunder have consistently proven to be elite at handling quick turnaround times. According to Cleaning the Glass, in situations where both teams are operating with a day of rest, Oklahoma City’s +16.7 point differential is leaps and bounds away from the rest of the league. For context, the Nuggets are a +3.2
The first quarter of Game 4 was the biggest indication of the Thunder’s viability in less than advantageous circumstances. A combination of bad Denver offense and good Oklahoma City defense resulted in 20 missed field goals and a 17-8 lead. Sunday afternoon was a sloppy game of basketball overall, featuring 16 combined turnovers in the first half and two teams that labored to generate efficient consecutive possessions.
Credit to Mark Daigenault’s group that began the fourth quarter — Alex Caruso, Aaron Wiggins, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Isaiah Hartenstein — that settled the game and gave the Thunder a much-needed lift. That pairing has been a huge lift for Oklahoma City during the postseason, posting a +47.9 net rating — and Wiggins and Wallace hit a combined 6 3s in Game 4. Overall, the Thunder’s perseverance — Gilgeous-Alexander doing a better job with Denver’s aggressive defensive scheme and a commitment to pressuring Jamal Murray at the other end — paid off, winning their biggest game of the season and swinging momentum back in their favor. — Kelly Iko
Westbrook gives, and Westbrook takes away
Russell Westbrook has been huge for the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs. He swung some games with his energy. He was one of the most important players in Game 7 of their first-round series against the LA Clippers with 16 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals in 27 minutes. For a team with so little depth, Westbrook has been essential.
As he has become a role player later in his career, though, Westbrook has been an awkward fit at times. As he is not a shooter, he shrinks the court around stars. His utility is minimized if he doesn’t have the ball, although he has been better as a screener this year. Given that, his success in Denver has been a pleasant surprise. As the Nuggets surrendered the lead with Jokić off the floor on Sunday afternoon, Westbrook’s flaws were obvious. He airballed an open corner 3 that the Thunder dared him to take. He went 2-for-12 for the game from the field. He also took three fouls in the first six-plus minutes of the fourth, including one when he gambled for a steal, missed, hitting Gilgeous-Alexander. That contributed to putting the Thunder, struggling offensively, into the bonus with 6:30 left in the quarter. The Nuggets lost his 27 minutes by 20 points.
This is the duality of Westbrook. His energy can sustain the Nuggets, but his weaknesses can be devastating, too. With Michael Porter Jr. struggling badly in the Denver starting lineup, the Nuggets can’t abide by the trick-or-treat version of Westbrook. Then again, they don’t have much of a choice. — Eric Koreen
(Top photo of Nuggets-Thunder: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)