The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder did not want a barrage of threes or a dominant night time from their star to even their second-round sequence with the Denver Nuggets. As a substitute, they leaned into the chaos. They embraced the fatigue. They responded to strain. And on Sunday afternoon, the youngest staff left within the NBA’s postseason seemed like a bunch rising up in actual time.
Grinding out a 92-87 win at Ball Enviornment, the Thunder tied the Western Convention semifinal sequence at 2-2 and reclaimed home-court benefit. The victory got here simply 36 hours after an additional time loss during which Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed a number of essential late photographs and was taunted by Nuggets followers as he exited the ground.
“In these moments when a recreation slows down, it often comes right down to your finest gamers making photographs and making performs,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned after Recreation 3. “And I did not do a ok job of that tonight.” When requested in regards to the jeers from the group, he added, “I don’t ever wish to present them that I’m defeated or mad. Nothing’s written. The sequence is certainly not over, and we now have quite a bit to be optimistic about.”
This wasn’t the kind of win that finally ends up on spotlight reels. It was the type that shapes playoff identities.
Caruso: “That is the Problem That’s Going to Push Us”
Oklahoma Metropolis’s response was fast. The Thunder opened Recreation 4 by holding Denver to only eight factors within the first quarter — the bottom in a playoff opening interval within the shot clock period. Each groups struggled offensively out of the gate, combining to shoot 8-of-44 within the first 12 minutes, however it was the Thunder’s poise and defensive dedication that endured.
Thunder guard Alex Caruso credited the staff’s psychological focus by way of adversity.
“I feel it simply comes right down to us having the championship-level focus,” Caruso mentioned. “I used to be excited to play Denver as a result of I knew they had been going to convey greatness out of us. That is no disrespect to Memphis, however we had been going to win that sequence, particularly as soon as Ja [Morant] went out. Simply based mostly off of expertise degree. However Denver is a brilliant staff, skilled staff. I do know that that is the problem that is going to push us to be nice, and I feel we’re seeing that.”
Caruso famous the skinny margin between successful and shedding in a playoff sequence that has now featured three video games determined within the closing minutes.
“Personally, [Game] 1 harm much more than [Game] 3,” he mentioned. “However it’s important to hold transferring on and get to the following one. Tremendous margins. We talked about that. Tremendous margins.”
Thunder Depth Delivers in Recreation of Attrition
The Thunder received 25 factors from Gilgeous-Alexander on 8-of-19 capturing, together with six rebounds and 6 assists. Nevertheless it was the defensive effort — and well timed manufacturing from the bench — that made the distinction.
“We actually, actually stacked stops. Made them earn every little thing, particularly down the stretch,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault mentioned. “We made a really intentional effort to make use of our depth right now. All people that touched the ground introduced power to the sport.”
Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins every scored 11 factors off the bench, whereas Caruso added 10. The Thunder held the Nuggets to only 31.3% capturing and restricted Nikola Jokic to 7-of-22 from the ground, together with 2-of-7 within the fourth quarter. Jokic missed two crucial free throws with 3:15 remaining that might have trimmed Oklahoma Metropolis’s result in two factors.
“I imply, it is somewhat little bit of every little thing,” Jokic defined. “They’re taking part in actually good protection on me, they’re really– into my physique, handsy, bodily, and I feel I missed like two, three open appears tonight, so it is somewhat little bit of every little thing. They’re shrinking the ball, they’re shrinking the ground for me, they’ve a man behind the defender, so it is somewhat little bit of every little thing, you understand. I must do a greater job, in fact, however it’s a part of the sport.”
Nuggets assistant coach David Adelman didn’t mince phrases in regards to the recreation’s aesthetics.
“You’ve received to provide their staff credit score,” Adelman mentioned. “A extremely disgusting basketball recreation. These guys made sufficient performs to push them over the sting to win the sport.”
The Thunder outscored Denver 29-18 within the closing quarter, closing with calmness and resolve. Their depth, protection, and late-game execution — all hallmarks of veteran playoff groups — helped safe a win that will show extra significant than any blowout.
With the sequence now tied 2-2, Recreation 5 shifts again to Oklahoma Metropolis on Tuesday night time. The Thunder, examined and steadied by adversity, are studying the best way to win in additional methods than one — and doing it collectively.
