After getting stunned in Game 1 with a 121-119 loss to the visiting Denver Nuggets, the Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t mess around in Game 2, Hulk-smashing the Nuggets by 43 points.
With momentum and their swagger back, they strutted into Denver with the goal of reclaiming home-court advantage. But Denver protected home court and gutted out the 113-104 win in overtime.
Game 4 on Sunday was an old-fashioned playoff brawl, as both teams shot under 36% from the field and 25% from downtown. The first quarter ended 17-8 in favor of OKC!
Denver won the second quarter by three points, then took the lead after halftime with a 33-21 third quarter. But the Thunder were the best team in the league for reasons, and, with the prospect of going down 3-1 in the series, they gutted out the 92-87 victory.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,200; 44 FPTS) led the way with 25 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals in 38 minutes. He shot 8-of-19 from the field, 0-of-5 from downtown and 9-of-12 from the line.
Jalen Williams ($7,800; 28.75 FPTS) was ice cold, converting only 2-of-13 shots from the field. Williams did stuff the stat sheet with 10 points, three rebounds, five assists, a block and three steals.
Chet Holmgren ($7,100; 23.25 FPTS) also had a poor game, shooting 4-of-10 from the field and 0-of-3 from downtown for eight points and 13 rebounds.
Cason Wallace ($3,400; 24.25 FPTS) provided a nice spark off the bench, contributing 11 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals in 23 minutes of action.
Isaiah Hartenstein ($6,000; 33.5 FPTS) stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, 14 rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal.
Everything starts and usually ends with Nikola Jokic ($11,200; 57.25 FPTS). Jokic put up 27 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and four steals. He shot 7-of-22 from the field, 2-of-8 from downtown and 11-of-14 from the line.
Aaron Gordon ($6,100; 47 FPTS) continued to ball out with 15 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and a block. He was highly efficient once again, going 5-of-10 from the field and 3-of-7 from downtown. He only converted 2-of-4 from the line, though.
Christian Braun ($5,300; 33.5 FPTS) produced 17 points, four rebounds, two assists, a block and three steals in 44 minutes.
Jamal Murray ($7,300; 30.5 FPTS) was held to 17 points, four rebounds, five assists and a steal. He shot 5-of-15 from the field and 2-of-5 from beyond the arc.
Michael Porter Jr. ($4,500; 15.75 FPTS) was all snowflake, making only one of his seven field goal attempts and one of two from the line. He played 34 minutes and pulled down nine rebounds and blocked one shot.
Speaking of snowflakes and ice-cold shooting, Russell Westbrook ($5,200; 13.75 FPTS) went 2-of-12 from the field and 2-of-9 from downtown in 27 minutes. He finished with six points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Game 5 is Tuesday in Oklahoma City.
