Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault described his team’s series against the Denver Nuggets as a ‘slugfest’ prior to Game 5 on Tuesday.
And as the Thunder looked like it was down for the count, trailing by eight points to start the fourth quarter, it peeled itself off the canvas.
OKC launched a late comeback to secure a 112-105 home win, and it now holds a 3-2 lead in the second-round playoff series.
Here are four more takeaways from the game:
Nikola Jokic looked like Nikola Jokic again
As soon as Jaylin Williams checked into the game for the first time with 37 seconds left in the opening quarter, he jogged over to Nikola Jokic and placed a hand on his back.
Williams wanted to let Jokic know he has there, and his presence had been felt throughout the series. His pesky defense had played a big role in the struggles of Jokic, who only shot 33.3% from the field (18.2% from deep) in Denver’s last three games.
But with 6:49 left until halftime, Jokic put his foot down. Actually, it was his shoulder.
The three-time MVP barreled into the lane and leaned into Williams, who went flying across the hardwood. And after missing a chip shot, Jokic got the tip-in to fall.
There wasn’t much that Williams or anyone else on the Thunder could do to contain Jokic. He finished with 44 points, 15 rebounds and five assists.
Jamal Murray took over the third quarter, helped Denver pull away
The Denver guard then flexed his muscles and soaked in the sorrows of a frustrated Thunder crowd. That marked the start of a scoring spree by Murray, who erupted for 13 points during a span of just 3 minutes and 47 seconds early in the third quarter.
Denver’s lead ballooned from two points to nine, and it led by as many as 12 points in the quarter. But OKC gradually chipped away at the deficit throughout the rest of the night, and it ultimately completed the comeback.
Lu Dort sparked OKC’s late comeback attempt
Lu Dort hovered around the 3-point line with his hands raised to his hips.
He was locked and loaded, ready to fire away if given the ball midway through the fourth quarter. And that was probably a good idea.
Dort had already drilled two triples in the quarter. Each one breathed life into OKC, which felt like its season was on life support as it trailed in a pivotal Game 5.
Williams skipped a pass to Dort and watched as he unleashed a deep bomb. It found the bottom of the net, trimming Denver’s lead to 92-90 and sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Dort came up clutch for OKC in the fourth quarter. He scored nine points to help the Thunder escape with a win.
OKC learned, lifted itself to 3-2 series lead
OKC entered Tuesday with a chance to claim a 3-2 lead at home in its second-round playoff series.
Does that sound familiar? It should.
OKC was in the same position during its second-round playoff series against Dallas last season. But the Thunder suffered a 104-92 home loss to the Mavericks in Game 5, and it ultimately lost the series in six games.
It was a learning lesson for the young OKC squad, which passed the test this time around.
History didn’t repeat itself, and now it’s on the Thunder’s side. Teams that win Game 5 of a 2-2 best-of-seven series have gone on to advance 81.3% of the time (191-44).
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 31 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Jalen Williams added 18 points and nine rebounds, while Holmgren chipped in 14 points and eight boards.
Game 6 will be at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 15, in Denver.