The Thunder is trying to beat the experienced Nuggets team
USA Today Sports ‘Lorenzo Reyes will analyze the second round matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets.
Sports Pulse
Considering the choice between winning an ugh or losing in style, NBA coaches and players get ugly victories.
In January, there are benefits to losing in style.
But the choice is clear when almost all possessions grinds and slogs began to look bad even on the best teams in May during the NBA playoffs. Everything that wins.
The Oklahoma City Thunder won Ugh Sunday, beating the Denver Nuggets (92-87) in Game 4 to conclude the Best 7 Western Conference Semi-Final Series 2-2.
The Thunder shot just 35.6% off the field and 24.4% with three pointers, but that was enough as their defense limited the Nuggets and star Nikola Jokic.
Oklahoma City avoids a 3-1 hole, and the winner of the next game often wins the series. The winner of the 2-2 series Game 5 wins the series 81.3% (192-44), with Game 5 winning Tuesday at Oklahoma City (9:30pm, TNT).
The winners and losers of Game 4 of the Thunder are the winners against the Nuggets.
winner
Shy Gilgaus Alexander
Oklahoma City MVP finalist Gilgeous-Alexander received two steals, including six rebounds, six assists and two Thunders, along with team-high 25 points. He missed five 3-point attempts, but did what he did all season. He was 14-8 on a two-point attempt, and his aggression turned to free throws.
Gilgeous-Alexander led the league with free throws made per game (7.9) and finished third in free throw attempts per game (8.8). He made just five attempts in the Thunder Game 3 loss. He returned to the line in Game 4, earning 12-12 while scoring nine points in the fourth quarter.
Oklahoma City bench
The Thunder had one of the top NBA benches this season and needed help from the sanctuary on Sunday. The starter, not named Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, was 40-11 from the field, 3-2, 2-18.
However, the Oklahoma City bench surpassed Denver’s 35-8, earning 11 points, five rebounds and two steals from Cason Wallace. 11 points and 6 rebounds from Aaron Wiggins. 10 points from Alex Caruso, four rebounds, two assists and plus 38 total.
Thunder Defense/Migration Violation
Oklahoma City held the nuggets, including 24.4% in 3 seconds, at 31.3% shooting, turning 14 Denver sales to 18 points. The Thunder also had 14 turnovers, but Denver was limited to just eight points from those sales. Jalen Williams steals three, with Gilgeous-Alexander and Wallace each having two for Thunder, making the league’s number one defense this season.
Aaron Gordon
Gordon has a great playoff for Denver. He had a buzzer beater shot that won two games, scored 15 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and produced six assists in Game 4. His two three-point attempts led three free throws, one off the backboard.
loser
Nicola Jokic
The series has become difficult for Denver’s MVP finalist Jokic. The efficiency of the offensive Jedi Jokic has hit the Thunder in the last three games. Denver’s Game 1 victory 42 points, limiting Thunder Limited Jokic’s ability to dominate the game with points, passes and rebounds since his 22 rebound performances.
During the regular season, Jokic averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 1.8 steel, 57.6% off the field, 41.7% on 3-pointers and 80% on free throws.
In the last three games, he shoots 33.3% off the field with 21.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 5.0 games, and 18.2% on 3-pointers. In Game 4, Jokic scored 27 points, but 11 appeared in the free throw, with a 22-7 shooting.
I praise Thunder’s defense. This forced interim coach David Adelman and his staff to find a way to unlock Jokic.
3-point shooting
In the first half, Denver and Oklahoma City combined 44-6 on three-pointers, each of which went 22-3. The second half was slightly better. Both shot 24.4%.
Michael Porter Jr.’s left shoulder
Porter is not featured in Denver’s injury report, but he had a left shoulder sprain in the first round and told reporters after Game 3 that he was an injury that normally would be on the sidelines for four to six weeks.
Porter Jr. had a good game 3 (21 points and 8 rebounds on 10-7 shooting), but in the other three games in the series it’s 25-4 with 13 points.
His shoulders are wrapped and he plays through it. However, he is unable to provide Denver’s consistent crime needs. He was 1-7 (0-5 for 3 seconds) in Game 4.