In one other glorious recreation befitting the most effective convention semifinals sequence by far, Denver began the fourth quarter 1-for-9 permitting the Thunder to erase an 11-point deficit fully, and after the 2 contenders (the groups AND the MVP candidates) exchanged titanic punches over the ultimate minutes, Oklahoma Metropolis’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams landed the 2 largest blows to will the Thunder to the sport 5 victory.
The Nuggets have been led valiantly by Nikola Jokic (44 factors, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists) with much-needed contributions from Jamal Murray (28 factors and 4 rebounds), lynchpin Aaron Gordon (13 factors and 5 rebounds), and Christian Braun (8 factors, 5 rebounds, and a couple of blocks). However there was little backup for Jokic to fend off the Thunder’s fourth quarter comeback.
Oklahoma Metropolis was paced by their business bros – Gilgeous-Alexander (31 factors, 7 assists, 6 rebounds), Chet Holmgren (14 factors and eight rebounds), and Jalen Williams (18 factors, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists). Lugentz Dort hit three essential threes to foment the Thunder’s fourth quarter push. Alex Caruso (13 factors and 4 rebounds) helped the Thunder keep within the recreation within the second quarter and past.
Oklahoma Metropolis stormed out of the video games to seize an early 10 level lead, however Denver slowly however certainly whittled away at their deficit behind improved passing and being extra affected person of their halfcourt units. Braun, particularly, his some essential threes throughout the Nuggets’ run. Jalen Williams did loads of harm on the different finish to bolster the Thunder assault. A well-played first quarter concluded with the Nuggets up one.
The second interval was a extra ragged affair with the groups staying neck-and-neck. Denver’s Murray and Gordon helped push their benefit out, however Oklahoma Metropolis drew nearer with Alex Caruso making a significant influence. The Nuggets pieced collectively a 9-0 run late within the half to go up ten, however in a good sequence, OKC, led by Gilgeous-Alexander, answered with a robust closing response to make it a two level recreation on the half.
The standard of play ratched up precipitiously within the third quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander had 4 driving lay-ups that regarded like mirror photos of one another. Whereas Jalen Williams cooled off, Murray and Jokic hit shot-after-shot to agency up the Nuggets’ lead. After Caruso re-entered the sport, he chased down a free carom and located a reducing Holmgren for a dunk. Throughout one sequence late within the stanza, Denver got here down with 4 consecutive offensive rebounds to carry possession for almost a minute AND a Jokic lay-up put the Nuggets up 11. The Thunder made one other late run to make it 86-78 heading to the fourth.
Observations
Sorry for the hole in Ultimate Scores – I lastly printed my e book, which now ranks simply behind the 2014 Sport 5 Ginobili run and the 2005 Horry Sport 5 heroics because the happiest moments of my life.
It makes far more sense now why San Antonio surrounded Tim Duncan with an array of serviceable facilities in his 30s (Fab Oberto, Francisco Elson, Rasho Nesterovic, and many others.)- seeing Jokic worn down by 1.5 rounds.
OKC closed with Jalen and Jaylin Williams, and effectively, that was laborious to trace.
Apart from the 2 late misses, I don’t assume I noticed Michael Porter, Jr. do something of consequence in that fourth quarter.
That Hartenstein capturing type is gross.
The field rating will reveal that Denver outscored 28-27 in BOTH the primary and second quarters.
If Atlanta has probably the most ‘crunk’ in-game music, OKC has probably the most EDM in-game music.
Sequence of the Sport #1: Russell Westbrook squeezed a deft pocket go by energetic fingers into the fingers of a reducing Murray for a pleasant lay-up to begin the second quarter.
Sequence of the Sport #2: Jokic did this halfway by the second – realizing that there have been two close by defenders round him on a dribble drive – angled his first try in a approach that allowed him to beat them each to the carom, and laid the second try in softly.
Sequence of the Sport #3: Initially of the third, Isaiah Hartenstein threw down a monstrous dunk and and-1 after which turned away Gordon’s dunk try on the different finish.
Sport Rundown
From the tip, Denver settled for a unnerving quantity of lengthy jumpers (0-6 from three) and their solely basket over 2+ minutes got here on an offensive rebound and layup from Jokic. Jalen Williams’ nook three and Isaiah Hartenstein’s dunk put OKC up 12-2. Gordon paired a point-blank dunk and a bodily lay-up to slice into that lead. Denver settled down after this, and saved the Thunder on the perimeter for some time. Braun’s nook three put Denver into the lead. Braun later linked from the left nook (on an motion paying homage to the Stunning Sport sequence San Antonio did to OKC in 2014 Sport 6). Regardless of the tough begin, Denver ended the primary up 28-27.
Murray and Gordon executed effectively for the Denver halfcourt offense to nudge the lead out to 6. Nonetheless, Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren transformed troublesome and-1’s to maintain it a two-possession recreation. Peyton Watson saved a number of Nugget possessions alive together with his hustle, and Julian Strawther’s straightaway three put Denver up 5. A pair of spectacular buckets from Jokic saved the Thunder at bay, whereas Murray’s freebies put the Nuggets up ten. Gilgeous-Alexander paired a floater and an and-1 to trim the deficit to 2 going into the break.
The MVP candidates appropriately traded baskets to begin the third interval. Hartenstein had a demonstrative and-1 dunk sequence that was matched by a corkscrew and-1 by Murray moments later. Jokic and Murray hit threes from the very same spot from above the break. Denver had no reply for Gilgeous-Alexander’s fruitful drives. Murray’s three from the earlier spot adopted by a turnaround from the precise elbow put Denver up 9. A Holmgren dunk lowered the Denver benefit to seven. Russell Westbrook chucked up a brick and an airball, and Gilgeous-Alexander’s pull-up introduced OKC inside six. After these comical misses, Westbrook’s floater put Denver up eight after the third.
