It’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs on Tuesday night at Paycom Center.
This Western Conference semifinal matchup is all tied up at two games apiece after OKC’s 92-87 win Sunday in Denver.
Here what you need to know about Game 5 of the Thunder-Nuggets series:
Thunder vs Nuggets live score updates in Game 5 of NBA Playoffs
The Nuggets started the second quarter on a 12-6 spurt that extended their lead to seven points.
The Thunder called a timeout and sent starters Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein onto the floor with reserves Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins. They immediately erased the lead with an 8-2 run.
But Denver struck right back with an 11-2 run that extended its lead to double digits.
Then OKC finished the half with — you guessed it — a run. This one was a 9-0 spurt born out of the Thunder’s aggression. They got a Chet Holmgren dunk in transition, then Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored and went to the free-throw line after hitting the accelerator after the initial transition was slowed. Finally, Wallace hustled downcourt, caught the Nuggets flat footed and went to the free throw line.
Nikola Jokic leads all scorers with 19 points, including a pair of 3-pointers in the final four minutes of the half.
SGA and Williams both have 11 points for the Thunder.
—Jenni Carlson, Columnist
Mark Daigneault described this series as a “slugfest” during his pregame press conference, and the first quarter embodied that.
OKC landed the first knockdown. It jumped out to a 12-2 lead, and Isaiah Hartenstein ended the scoring spree at the 7:58 mark by punching the ball through the rim for a two-handed dunk.
But Denver lifted itself off of the canvas. And when it emerged from a timeout, it punched back with a 16-2 run of its own.
The Nuggets ultimately held a 28-27 lead at the end of the first quarter. Nikola Jokic led Denver with nine points and five rebounds, while Jalen Williams led OKC with nine points and three rebounds.
—Justin Martinez, Staff writer
It’s a 12-2 start for OKC. Lottttt of empty trips for Denver. Starts 1 for 9 with a turnover. Adelman isn’t happy with the officials. Thunder offense has looked marvelous, as clean as it has all series.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
After the Thunder’s Game 3 meltdown, coach Mark Daigneault said the Denver defense hadn’t done anything tricky, and that Oklahoma City didn’t have to reinvent itself.
But Game 4 saw more egregious offense, with the Thunder outlasting Denver. So what has Denver thrown OKC’s way?
“I think the biggest takeaway of what they’re doing through four games is that they’re doing a lot,” Daigneault said. “It’s more than any one specific thing. They’ve thrown three different zones out against us. They’ve switched, they’ve showed, they’ve had Jokic back, Jokic up to the level of the screen. They’ve just shown a lot of different looks and a lot of different schemes, and have pivoted pretty quickly to those in games.
“Fortunately for us, we’ve kinda seen a lot of what they’ve shown.”
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
It’s been an uncharacteristic series for Nuggets star Nikola Jokic.
Jokic has more turnovers (23) than assists (21).
“The turnovers have to come down with him and our whole team,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said Tuesday before Game 5.
Jokic has also been an inefficient scorer. He’s shooting sub-40% from the floor and 21% from 3-point range through the first four games. He’s also missing free throws.
“Obviously he wants to shoot the ball better and be more efficient,” Adelman said. “It’s a grind. The playoffs are a grind. Just like the regular season you go through ups and downs. I saw it during the Clippers series. It’s coming … The efficiency, we know it’s there, it’s inside of him.
“It’s almost impossible for it not to come back.”
—Joe Mussatto, Columnist
- Date: Tuesday, May 13
- Time: 8:30 p.m. CT
- Where: Paycom Center in OKC
The OKC vs Denver game starts at 8:30 p.m. CT Tuesday from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
- TV: TNT
- Livestream: Sling TV (free trial), truTV and Max
- Radio: WWLS 98.1 FM
The OKC vs Denver game will be broadcast on TNT. It can be streamed on Sling TV, truTV and Max.
What is biggest key for Thunder vs Nuggets to advance in NBA Playoffs?
Fresh legs must deliver: My key to the series before it started was the Thunder’s young legs. I’m sticking with that. OKC needs to push the tempo and be aggressive, feisty on defense and getting downhill on offense, because Denver looks a bit worn down to me. The Thunder is younger and deeper. Lean into those advantages as much as possible. —Jenni Carlson, Columnist
Joel Lorenzi, Thunder beat writer: Through four games, Nikola Jokic is averaging 26.5 & 14.8 rebounds. He’s also logged more turnovers than assists, and is shooting 39.1% from the field and 21.4% from 3 — both his worst marks in any series during a lengthy career of postseasons. Jaylin Williams chalks it up to a great missing shots, and when asked about the coverages that’ve worked, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will act like he hit his head until the series finishes. OKC has simply had the adequate bodies and variations of looks. Continuing to make Jokic look like anyone else feels like a baseline for the series. —Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Who will win the 3-point battle?: OKC is shooting 32.3% from deep in this series. Lu Dort is down to 25%. Jalen Williams is down to 20.8%. Chet Holmgren is down to 20%. That only makes life more difficult for a guy like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, an elite driver who benefits from having good floor spacing. If Denver continues to take away the 3-point line, it’ll have a good chance of advancing. If OKC dials in from deep, it’ll be in the driver’s seat. —Justin Martinez, Staff writer
Which No. 2 option rises up?: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has outplayed Nikola Jokic this series, but the two MVP candidates more or less balance each other out. I’m curious which of Jalen Williams and Jamal Murray can maybe steal one of these final games. Murray has done it before. Williams hasn’t. Both have been inconsistent in the series. —Joe Mussatto, Columnist
- Games: 76
- Points: 32.7 per game
- Rebounds: 5.0 per game
- Assists: 6.4 per game
- Steals: 1.7 per game
- Blocks: 1.0 per game
- Field-goal shooting: 51.9%
- 3-point shooting: 37.5%
- Free-throw shooting: 89.8%
All times are Central Time (CT)
Odds via BetMGM as of Monday, May 12
Odds: Thunder by 9.5
Over/under: 220.5
Moneyline: OKC -500 | Denver +375
Justin Martinez: OKC 115, Denver 105
After struggling to close out games earlier in the series, OKC delivered down the stretch of Game 4 to escape with a 92-87 road win. It also showcased its depth with strong contributions from Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins and Alex Caruso. And its defense continued to cause problems for Nikola Jokic. Momentum is on the Thunder’s side as it returns home, where the rims have been much friendlier. OKC is shooting 36.6% from deep at home these playoffs compared to 26.2% on the road. These are all good signs for the Thunder, which I’m picking to win a pivotal Game 5.
Thunder vs. Nuggets highlights in Game 5 of Western Conference semifinals
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