The Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t need a barrage of threes or a dominant night from their star to even their second-round series with the Denver Nuggets. Instead, they leaned into the chaos. They embraced the fatigue. They responded to pressure. And on Sunday afternoon, the youngest team left in the NBA’s postseason looked like a group growing up in real time.
Grinding out a 92-87 win at Ball Arena, the Thunder tied the Western Conference semifinal series at 2-2 and reclaimed home-court advantage. The victory came just 36 hours after an overtime loss in which Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed several crucial late shots and was taunted by Nuggets fans as he exited the floor.
“In those moments when a game slows down, it usually comes down to your best players making shots and making plays,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after Game 3. “And I didn’t do a good enough job of that tonight.” When asked about the jeers from the crowd, he added, “I don’t ever want to show them that I’m defeated or mad. Nothing’s written. The series is definitely not over, and we have a lot to be optimistic about.”
This wasn’t the type of win that ends up on highlight reels. It was the kind that shapes playoff identities.
Caruso: “This is the Challenge That’s Going to Push Us”
Oklahoma City’s response was immediate. The Thunder opened Game 4 by holding Denver to just eight points in the first quarter — the lowest in a playoff opening period in the shot clock era. Both teams struggled offensively out of the gate, combining to shoot 8-of-44 in the first 12 minutes, but it was the Thunder’s poise and defensive commitment that endured.
Thunder guard Alex Caruso credited the team’s mental focus through adversity.
“I think it just comes down to us having the championship-level focus,” Caruso said. “I was excited to play Denver because I knew they were going to bring greatness out of us. This is no disrespect to Memphis, but we were going to win that series, especially once Ja [Morant] went out. Just based off of talent level. But Denver is a smart team, experienced team. I know that this is the challenge that’s going to push us to be great, and I think we’re seeing that.”
Caruso noted the thin margin between winning and losing in a playoff series that has now featured three games decided in the final minutes.
“Personally, [Game] 1 hurt a lot more than [Game] 3,” he said. “But you have to keep moving on and get to the next one. Fine margins. We talked about that. Fine margins.”
Thunder Depth Delivers in Game of Attrition
The Thunder got 25 points from Gilgeous-Alexander on 8-of-19 shooting, along with six rebounds and six assists. But it was the defensive effort — and timely production from the bench — that made the difference.
“We really, really stacked stops. Made them earn everything, especially down the stretch,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “We made a very intentional effort to use our depth today. Everybody that touched the floor brought energy to the game.”
Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins each scored 11 points off the bench, while Caruso added 10. The Thunder held the Nuggets to just 31.3% shooting and limited Nikola Jokic to 7-of-22 from the floor, including 2-of-7 in the fourth quarter. Jokic missed two critical free throws with 3:15 remaining that could have trimmed Oklahoma City’s lead to two points.
“I mean, it’s a little bit of everything,” Jokic explained. “They’re playing really good defense on me, they’re really– into my body, handsy, physical, and I think I missed like two, three open looks tonight, so it’s a little bit of everything. They’re shrinking the ball, they’re shrinking the floor for me, they have a guy behind the defender, so it’s a little bit of everything, you know. I need to do a better job, of course, but it’s part of the game.”
Nuggets assistant coach David Adelman didn’t mince words about the game’s aesthetics.
“You’ve got to give their team credit,” Adelman said. “A really disgusting basketball game. Those guys made enough plays to push them over the edge to win the game.”
The Thunder outscored Denver 29-18 in the final quarter, closing with calmness and resolve. Their depth, defense, and late-game execution — all hallmarks of veteran playoff teams — helped secure a win that may prove more meaningful than any blowout.
With the series now tied 2-2, Game 5 shifts back to Oklahoma City on Tuesday night. The Thunder, tested and steadied by adversity, are learning how to win in more ways than one — and doing it together.
