Game ID: 42400221
Denver Nuggets @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Monday, May 5, 2025 at 9:30 PM ET
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
OKC 27 33 30 29 119DEN 26 24 35 36 121
DEN @ OKC ScoutingDEN @ OKC Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
OKC availability going into 4/20 · 6 days' restOUT Gilgeous-Alexande missed 3 since 4/09, returns tonight: 23 min (66% of 35)
OUT Jal. Williams missed 2 since 4/11, returns tonight: 26 min (78% of 33)
OUT Dort missed 3 since 4/09, returns tonight: 22 min (75% of 29)
OUT Holmgren missed 2 since 4/11, returns tonight: 21 min (74% of 28)
OUT Hartenstein missed 3 since 4/09, returns tonight: 21 min (80% of 26)
OUT Wallace missed 3 since 4/09, returns tonight: 13 min (48% of 26)
OUT Caruso missed 2 since 4/11, returns tonight: 12 min (57% of 21)
BACK Jay. Williams back 4/09 after 4, 17 min since (120% of 14)
BACK Mitchell back 4/11 after 46, 18 min since (126% of 14)
NEW Wiggins 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Joe 19 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW K. Williams 15 to 24 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 4/22 · 1 day's restBACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 4/20 after 3, 23 min since (66% of 35)
BACK Jal. Williams back 4/20 after 2, 26 min since (78% of 33)
BACK Dort back 4/20 after 3, 22 min since (75% of 29)
BACK Holmgren back 4/20 after 2, 21 min since (74% of 28)
BACK Hartenstein back 4/20 after 3, 21 min since (80% of 26)
BACK Wallace back 4/20 after 3, 13 min since (48% of 26)
BACK Caruso back 4/20 after 2, 12 min since (57% of 21)
BACK Jay. Williams back 4/09 after 4, 18 min since (122% of 14)
BACK Mitchell back 4/11 after 46, 17 min since (118% of 14)
NEW Wiggins 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Joe 19 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW K. Williams 15 to 24 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 4/24 · 1 day's restBACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 4/20 after 3, 31 min since (88% of 35)
BACK Jal. Williams back 4/20 after 2, 31 min since (93% of 33)
BACK Dort back 4/20 after 3, 27 min since (93% of 29)
BACK Holmgren back 4/20 after 2, 27 min since (96% of 28)
BACK Hartenstein back 4/20 after 3, 24 min since (91% of 26)
BACK Wallace back 4/20 after 3, 19 min since (71% of 26)
BACK Caruso back 4/20 after 2, 17 min since (82% of 21)
BACK Jay. Williams back 4/09 after 4, 15 min since (102% of 14)
BACK Mitchell back 4/11 after 46, 17 min since (118% of 14)
NEW Wiggins 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Joe 19 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW K. Williams 15 to 28 min over the last 4
OKC availability going into 4/26 · 1 day's restOUT K. Williams missed 2 since 4/22, returns tonight: 2 min (10% of 15)
BACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 4/20 after 3, 34 min since (97% of 35)
BACK Jal. Williams back 4/20 after 2, 33 min since (99% of 33)
BACK Dort back 4/20 after 3, 30 min since (103% of 29)
BACK Holmgren back 4/20 after 2, 29 min since (102% of 28)
BACK Hartenstein back 4/20 after 3, 23 min since (87% of 26)
BACK Wallace back 4/20 after 3, 20 min since (77% of 26)
BACK Caruso back 4/20 after 2, 19 min since (92% of 21)
BACK Mitchell back 4/11 after 46, 13 min since (92% of 14)
OKC availability going into 5/05 · 8 days' restBACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 4/20 after 3, 35 min since (101% of 35)
BACK Jal. Williams back 4/20 after 2, 34 min since (103% of 33)
BACK Dort back 4/20 after 3, 30 min since (101% of 29)
BACK Holmgren back 4/20 after 2, 29 min since (102% of 28)
BACK Hartenstein back 4/20 after 3, 23 min since (89% of 26)
BACK Wallace back 4/20 after 3, 21 min since (78% of 26)
BACK Caruso back 4/20 after 2, 21 min since (100% of 21)
BACK K. Williams back 4/26 after 2, 2 min since (10% of 15)
OKC availability going into 5/07 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 2 since 4/26, returns tonight: 13 min (94% of 14)
BACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 4/20 after 3, 36 min since (103% of 35)
BACK Jal. Williams back 4/20 after 2, 35 min since (105% of 33)
BACK Dort back 4/20 after 3, 30 min since (102% of 29)
BACK Holmgren back 4/20 after 2, 29 min since (101% of 28)
BACK Hartenstein back 4/20 after 3, 25 min since (93% of 26)
BACK Wallace back 4/20 after 3, 21 min since (79% of 26)
BACK Caruso back 4/20 after 2, 22 min since (105% of 21)
BACK K. Williams back 4/26 after 2, 2 min since (10% of 15)
OKC availability going into 5/09 · 1 day's restBACK K. Williams back 4/26 after 2, 7 min since (45% of 15)
BACK Mitchell back 5/07 after 2, 13 min since (94% of 14)
OKC availability going into 5/11 · 1 day's restBACK K. Williams back 4/26 after 2, 7 min since (45% of 15)
BACK Mitchell back 5/07 after 2, 13 min since (94% of 14)
OKC availability going into 5/13 · 1 day's restOUT K. Williams missed 2 since 5/09, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 2 since 5/09, out tonight
DEN availability going into 4/26 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 8 since 4/04, out tonight
BACK Murray back 4/11 after 6, 37 min since (99% of 37)
BACK Strawther back 4/24 after 2, 11 min since (55% of 20)
BACK Nnaji back 4/13 after 3, 6 min since (54% of 10)
NEW Gordon 30 to 37 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/29 · 2 days' restOUT Šarić missed 9 since 4/04, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 4/24 after 2, 11 min since (55% of 20)
BACK Nnaji back 4/13 after 3, 6 min since (54% of 10)
NEW Gordon 30 to 37 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 5/01 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 10 since 4/04, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 4/24 after 2, 6 min since (32% of 20)
BACK Nnaji back 4/24 after 2, 3 min since (32% of 10)
NEW Gordon 30 to 39 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 5/03 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 11 since 4/04, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 4/24 after 2, 6 min since (32% of 20)
BACK Nnaji back 4/24 after 2, 3 min since (32% of 10)
NEW Gordon 30 to 38 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 5/05 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 12 since 4/04, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 4/24 after 2, 5 min since (27% of 20)
BACK Nnaji back 4/24 after 2, 3 min since (28% of 10)
NEW Gordon 30 to 38 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 5/07 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 13 since 4/04, out tonight
NEW Murray 37 to 43 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 35 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW Gordon 30 to 39 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 5/09 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 14 since 4/04, out tonight
NEW Gordon 30 to 36 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 5/11 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 15 since 4/04, out tonight
NEW Gordon 30 to 38 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 5/13 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 16 since 4/04, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 2 since 5/09, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 2 since 5/09, out tonight
NEW Gordon 30 to 37 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 100, shooting 45 percent and 29 from three, 25 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 28 and Jal. Williams at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. 8 days' rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Murray at 23 and Jokić at 23 a game. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 39 percent from three to OKC's 29 and the line, where OKC takes 25 free throws a game to Denver's 18. Call it OKC 117, Denver 108.
4/20 vs MEM 131-80 — OKC notes
OKC won 131-80. OKC shot 51% (50 of 99) to MEM's 34%, 17 of 48 from three. OKC turned it over 15 times to MEM's 22. The glass went 54-43 for them. Wiggins led with 21 (8 of 15, 4 of 7 from three); Jal. Williams added 20, Holmgren 19. The hinge was Q2, 36-16: a lead of 12 became 32, and the lead reached 56. Jal. Williams was the night's best plus/minus at +44.
4/22 vs MEM 118-99 — OKC notes
OKC won 118-99. OKC shot 43% (45 of 104) to MEM's 43%, 15 of 45 from three. OKC turned it over 7 times to MEM's 14. The glass went 55-42 for them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 27 (10 of 29, 3 of 10 from three); Jal. Williams added 24, Holmgren 20. The hinge was Q1, 32-17: from level to 15 ahead, and the lead reached 23. Caruso was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
4/24 @ MEM 114-108 — OKC notes
OKC won 114-108. OKC shot 45% (39 of 86) to MEM's 43%, 13 of 38 from three, and went to the line 33 times to MEM's 26 — 23 points from the stripe to their 22. OKC turned it over 11 times to MEM's 16. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 31 (10 of 26, 2 of 7 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Jal. Williams added 26, Holmgren 24. The hinge was Q3, 36-18: the deficit went from 26 to 8. OKC trailed 51-77 at the half and won the second half 63-31. Holmgren was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
4/26 @ MEM 117-115 — OKC notes
OKC won 117-115. OKC shot 44% (41 of 94) to MEM's 46%, 7 of 35 from three. OKC turned it over 8 times to MEM's 21. The glass went 33-51 against them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 38 (13 of 24, 1 of 4 from three, 11 of 13 at the line); Jal. Williams added 23, Holmgren 11. The hinge was Q1, 34-31: from level to 3 ahead.
5/05 vs DEN 119-121 — OKC notes
OKC lost 119-121. OKC shot 42% (42 of 100) to DEN's 44%, 15 of 43 from three. OKC turned it over 9 times to DEN's 18. The glass went 43-63 against them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 33 (12 of 26, 2 of 6 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Caruso added 20, Jal. Williams 16. Q2 was theirs, 33-24, but the other 3 periods went 97-86 against them. They led by as many as 14.
5/07 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 105, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 25 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 29 and Jal. Williams at 22 a game. One day's rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jokić at 26 and Murray at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-8 a night and OKC minus-2 and the arc, Denver at 39 percent from three to OKC's 32. Call it OKC 118, Denver 110.
5/09 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Murray at 23 and Jokić at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 30 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 33 and Jal. Williams at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-6 a night and OKC minus-3 and the turnovers, Denver giving it away 14 times a game to OKC's 9. Call it OKC 118, Denver 115, Denver keeping it close.
5/11 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Murray at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 31 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Jal. Williams at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-5 a night and OKC minus-5 and the turnovers, Denver giving it away 15 times a game to OKC's 10. Call it OKC 118, Denver 114, Denver keeping it close.
5/13 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 108, shooting 43 percent and 30 from three, 29 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 113, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 29 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Murray at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Denver giving it away 15 times a game to OKC's 10 and the glass, where Denver has been plus-3 a night and OKC minus-4. Call it OKC 118, Denver 109.
4/26 @ LAC 101-99 — DEN notes
DEN won 101-99. DEN shot 46% (40 of 87) to LAC's 44%, 10 of 29 from three. Jokić led with 36 (14 of 25, 3 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Braun added 17, Porter Jr. 17. The hinge was Q3, 35-17: a lead of 2 became 20.
4/29 vs LAC 131-115 — DEN notes
DEN won 131-115. DEN shot 56% (48 of 86) to LAC's 52%, 17 of 33 from three. Murray led with 43 (17 of 26, 8 of 14 from three); Gordon added 23, Westbrook 21. The hinge was Q1, 35-23: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Porter Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +34.
5/01 @ LAC 105-111 — DEN notes
DEN lost 105-111. DEN shot 52% (44 of 84) to LAC's 50%, 11 of 27 from three, and got to the line 9 times to LAC's 15. DEN turned it over 12 times to LAC's 7, and LAC turned those into 9 steals. Jokić led with 25 (11 of 22, 2 of 4 from three); Murray added 21, Gordon 19. Q4 was theirs, 26-21, the deficit cut from 11 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 90-79 against them. Porter Jr.'s -24 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
5/03 vs LAC 120-101 — DEN notes
DEN won 120-101. DEN shot 52% (47 of 90) to LAC's 48%, 11 of 29 from three. The glass went 46-36 for them. Gordon led with 22 (9 of 16, 0 of 3 from three); Braun added 21, Murray 16. The hinge was Q2, 37-21: DEN came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 11, and the lead reached 35. Porter Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +31.
5/05 @ OKC 121-119 — DEN notes
DEN won 121-119. DEN shot 44% (42 of 95) to OKC's 42%, 10 of 32 from three. DEN turned it over 18 times to OKC's 9, and OKC turned those into 12 steals. The glass went 63-43 for them. Jokić led with 42 (15 of 29, 2 of 6 from three, 10 of 13 at the line); Gordon added 22, Murray 21. The hinge was Q4, 36-29: DEN came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 2. DEN trailed 50-60 at the half and won the second half 71-59.
5/07 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 105, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 25 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 29 and Jal. Williams at 22 a game. One day's rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jokić at 26 and Murray at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-8 a night and OKC minus-2 and the arc, Denver at 39 percent from three to OKC's 32. Call it OKC 118, Denver 110.
5/09 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Murray at 23 and Jokić at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 30 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 33 and Jal. Williams at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-6 a night and OKC minus-3 and the turnovers, Denver giving it away 14 times a game to OKC's 9. Call it OKC 118, Denver 115, Denver keeping it close.
5/11 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Murray at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 31 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Jal. Williams at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-5 a night and OKC minus-5 and the turnovers, Denver giving it away 15 times a game to OKC's 10. Call it OKC 118, Denver 114, Denver keeping it close.
5/13 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 108, shooting 43 percent and 30 from three, 29 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 113, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 29 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Murray at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Denver giving it away 15 times a game to OKC's 10 and the glass, where Denver has been plus-3 a night and OKC minus-4. Call it OKC 118, Denver 109.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
OKCAC A. Caruso
AW A. Wiggins
CH C. Holmgren
CW C. Wallace
IH I. Hartenstein
IJ I. Joe
JW J. Williams
JW Jal. Williams
LD L. Dort
SG S. Gilgeous-Alexander
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
JM J. Murray
JS J. Strawther
JO Jokic
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RW R. Westbrook
OKC/DEN the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Gordon's game-winner, Jokic's 42 points, 22 rebounds lead Nuggets past Thunder in West semis Game 1
OKLAHOMA CITY -- — Nikola Jokic showed why he's a finalist for another MVP award with his historic stat line. But with Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals at stake, the ball again found Aaron Gordon 's hands.
Gordon hit a 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds remaining, supporting Jokic's 42-point, 22-rebound effort and giving the Denver Nuggets a stunning 121-119 comeback win over the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night.
It was the kind of finish one might expect of a team that won the NBA title just two seasons ago.
“We just didn’t want to miss the moment, didn’t want to miss the opportunity," Gordon said. "We knew that if we waited, it may be too late. I’m glad we showed our mettle, our grit, but we’re not satisfied.”
It was Gordon's second game-winner of the playoffs. His dunk on a Jokic miss as time expired lifted the Nuggets past the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 4 of their first-round series.
Gordon did much more than hit the deciding shot against the Thunder.
“Aaron’s going to be a hero again," Denver interim coach David Adelman said. "But I’m also looking at 14 rebounds. I’m looking at 22 points. Looking at ball-handling responsibilities, leadership. He is a Denver Nugget, man. Like, he is the soul of our team. So, cool to see him have two moments that no one will forget.”
Jokic became just the fourth player to have at least 40 points, 20 rebounds and five assists in a playoff game.
Denver’s Russell Westbrook , who started his career with the Thunder, assisted on Gordon’s game-winner. It was his first playoff game in Oklahoma City as an opposing player.
Jamal Murray added 21 points for the fourth-seeded Nuggets, who stole the opener after closing out a seven-game series against the Clippers on Saturday.
Denver's opportunity came after Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren missed two free throws with the Thunder leading by a point.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander , the other MVP finalist in the game, had 33 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Thunder, who hadn't played in more than a week after sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. Alex Caruso added 20 points, six assists and five steals.
Jokic picked up three fouls during a two-minute stretch in the third quarter after committing just one foul in the first half. He stayed in the game with the Thunder leading 73-64.
The Nuggets closed the gap to 90-85 by the end of the third quarter.
With the Thunder leading 104-95 and just under seven minutes remaining, Jokic elbowed Oklahoma City's Lu Dort in the head on a drive, and the play was reviewed. The play was ruled a flagrant 1 on Jokic — his fifth foul — and Dort made two free throws.
Denver spent the rest of the game closing the gap, and Jokic never picked up the sixth foul.
The Thunder helped Denver by fouling intentionally while leading, and the Nuggets took advantage by making all four free throws in the final 12.9 seconds.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said he didn't regret the strategy that ultimately kept the Nuggets close.
“It didn’t go our way tonight, but it’s worked out well for us in the past,” Daigneault said. “We’ll continue to look at it and learn from it, but I don’t think that’s why we lost the game.”
Oklahoma City led 113-102 with 4:31 remaining. The Thunder, normally one of the best closing teams in the league, fell apart against the veteran Nuggets.
“I never felt like anybody wavered,” Adelman said. “And that doesn’t mean you’re going to win the game. But we all know in the NBA playoffs these games are so long. You just try to give yourself a chance. We did that.”