Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 25 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 92–87 victory over the Denver Nuggets, tying the Western Conference Semifinal series at two games apiece.
Denver, CO. (WE) — On an afternoon where offense was scarce and defense dictated the pace, the Oklahoma City Thunder found just enough rhythm in the fourth quarter to pull out a critical 92-87 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of their Western Conference Semifinal series. With the win, the Thunder evened the best-of-seven battle at 2-2, setting up a pivotal Game 5 back home on Tuesday night.
In a performance that echoed grit over grace, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all Thunder scorers with 25 points, while also adding six rebounds and six assists. But it was his poise in the final minutes—where he scored nine crucial points—that pushed Oklahoma City across the finish line in a rock fight of a contest.
“We fought. We stayed the course,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “… and then we closed the game.”
A Throwback Battle: When Shots Don’t Fall, Defense Must Rise
If Game 2 of this series was an offensive explosion, Game 4 was its polar opposite. A sluggish start saw both teams combine for only 25 points in the first quarter, the lowest-scoring first period in any playoff game since the 1950s. The Ball Arena crowd sat stunned as Denver hit just 2-of-22 field goals in the opening 12 minutes, managing only eight points, the lowest in any quarter in Nikola Jokić’s playoff career.
“I don’t want to say that the early start time hurt us,” said Denver interim head coach David Adelman, “but both teams were very tired coming off an unbelievably physical overtime game on Friday night. This one was about who had the legs to finish. Unfortunately, it wasn’t us.”
The shooting struggles were historic. The two teams finished a combined 21-of-86 from 3-point range, a dreadful 24.4% clip. OKC shot just 35.6% from the field, while Denver lagged behind at 31.3%. However, Oklahoma City capitalized on the game’s few offensive spurts—most notably, a bench-fueled 11-0 fourth-quarter run that swung momentum for good.
The Bench Mob Ignites OKC
While stars often dominate the postseason narrative, Game 4 was decided by Oklahoma City Thunder’s reserves. Rookies and role players became heroes when it mattered most.
Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, and Alex Caruso combined for 32 points off the bench, hitting eight of their 10 threes. It was Wallace’s second long-range bomb early in the fourth that gave Oklahoma City a 75-73 lead—a lead they never relinquished.
“I really thought the difference in the game was their bench,” said Adelman. “They lit a fuse for them. They made threes in a game where very few were falling. That’s how you swing playoff momentum.”
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault credited his squad’s depth for helping navigate a grueling turnaround after Friday’s overtime heartbreaker.
“We made an intentional effort to use our depth today,” Daigneault said. “Everybody got going, and that was the key.”
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Jokić Shines but Can’t Do It All
Despite a valiant 27-point, 13-rebound effort from Nikola Jokić, the reigning NBA Finals MVP couldn’t drag Denver over the finish line alone. His three assists marked a postseason low, emblematic of a Nuggets offense out of sync.
Jokić has been uncharacteristically turnover-prone in this series, now totaling 23 turnovers compared to 22 assists across the four games. His shooting was equally shaky—just 7-of-22 from the field, including several key misses in crunch time.
“I don’t make excuses,” said Jokić. “I missed shots. I turned it over. We have to be better.”
Jamal Murray chipped in with 18 points but went just 1-of-7 from deep, and Michael Porter Jr. continued to struggle with consistency. The Nuggets committed 14 turnovers, missed 34 threes, and committed a critical five-second inbounds violation in the final minute that essentially sealed their fate.
Series Recap and Upcoming Schedule
Here’s how the back-and-forth series has played out so far:
| Game | Result | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Nuggets 121, Thunder 119 | Denver |
| Game 2 | Thunder 149, Nuggets 106 | Denver |
| Game 3 | Nuggets 113, Thunder 104 (OT) | Oklahoma City |
| Game 4 | Thunder 92, Nuggets 87 | Denver |
Remaining Games:
- Game 5: Tuesday, May 13 | Thunder vs. Nuggets | 9:30 p.m. ET | TNT/Max
- Game 6: Thursday, May 15 | Nuggets vs. Thunder | Time TBD
- Game 7: If necessary | Sunday, May 18 | Thunder vs. Nuggets | Time TBD
Odds via DraftKings
- Game 5 Line: Thunder -10.5, Over/Under: 220
- Series Odds: Thunder -550, Nuggets +425
Clashing Playoff Journeys: Depth vs. Experience
Oklahoma City Thunder, the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, made quick work of the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, completing a 4-0 sweep. Despite a subpar shooting series, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 27.8 points per game and remains the engine of a young team seeking their first Western Conference Finals appearance since 2016.
Denver’s path has been more arduous. The Nuggets needed seven games to eliminate the Los Angeles Clippers, and just before the postseason, made the shocking decision to replace long-time head coach Michael Malone with David Adelman.
The gamble paid off—at least initially. Adelman now has more playoff wins (5) than regular season wins (4), but this young Thunder team is proving to be more than just a feel-good story.
“They play with no fear,” said Murray. “They make mistakes, but they recover fast. That’s dangerous.”
The Turning Point: Game 4’s Defining Run
Trailing 73-66 early in the fourth, it looked like Denver might pull away. A silky turnaround jumper from Aaron Gordon had capped a 13-3 run for the home team, and momentum was fully on their side.
But with their backs to the wall, OKC unleashed a devastating 11-0 counterpunch:
- Wallace hit a three from the corner.
- Wiggins followed with another from the wing.
- Wallace buried a second triple to give OKC a 75-73 edge.
“They hit us, and we responded,” said Daigneault. “That’s growth. That’s what you want to see in a young team.”
What’s Next: Game 5 and Beyond?
All eyes now turn to Game 5 in Oklahoma City. The Thunder are 4-1 at home in these playoffs, and Paycom Center has become one of the loudest arenas in the league.
Denver, meanwhile, will need to regroup. Fatigue is real, and their stars are logging heavy minutes. The question is whether the championship pedigree of Jokić, Murray, and Porter Jr. can push back against the relentlessness of a young, hungry OKC team.
“It’s 2-2. Nothing has changed,” said Jokić. “We go again.”
Series Outlook
This series has everything: blowouts, buzzer-beaters, overtime drama, and now a 92-87 slugfest that could best be described as old-school playoff basketball.
The Oklahoma City Thunder may lack experience, but they have heart, athleticism, and a rising MVP candidate in Gilgeous-Alexander. The Nuggets, meanwhile, have history, toughness, and a two-time MVP in Jokić.
As it stands, this second-round clash is now a best-of-three—momentum reset, pressure mounting, and the stakes as high as ever.
