(Photo: The Oklahhoman, NBA)

The Oklahoma City Thunder won a huge game 5 defending home court and taking a 3-2 series lead in the western Conference semi finals against the Denver Nuggets. This game showed the Thunders fourth quarter heroics just like we saw in game 4 in Denver. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lead the Thunder with 31 points and 7 assists shooting 12-23 from the field showcasing his leadership and very Clutch play in the 4th quarter as he had 8 of his 31 in the 4th with all 8 coming with less than 4 minutes left in the game. Lu Dort also had a big 4th quarter after not playing at all in the 4th last game OKC coach Mark Daigneault stuck with him. Dort did not disappoint as he hit 3 massive 3 point shots in the 4th quarter which really dragged OKC back into the fight. Dort ended the game with 12 points with 9 of the 12 coming in the 4th. OKC was also getting it done on defence this quarter, OKC held Denver to without a field goal for more than eight and half minutes. That was huge for OKC who were down 8 points coming into the 4th and needed that defence to spark there offence. 

Denvers own MVP candidate Nikola Jokic also had himself a game with 44 points 15 rebounds and 5 assists. Jokic did not sit the whole 4th quarter which was an interesting move by the Denver coach David Adelman. Adelman said he ” did not regret playing jokic”, in context to him playing the full fourth quarter. Jokic hit some insane shots in the 4th quarter including a fade away 3 pointer to tie the gae at 103 with less than 2 minutes remaining. heres the clip of that insane shot.   https://x.com/LegionHoops/status/1922502410750029995

Jokic had 9 of his 41 points in the 4th quarter. He did everything he could but the Nuggets could not get it done. The Nuggets had many chances to run away with the game they had a double digit lead but every time they would go up big OKC would come back on a run of there own. 

Now the Nuggets face Elimination at home in game 6. For the Nuggets you just have to hope Jokic can play like he did in game 5 tonight and hope his supporting cast can help a little bit more. Jokic and the Nuggets especially need Micheal Porter Jr to step up. Porter Jr is a bug part of this nuggets offence and he has scored in the single 4 of the 5 games this series. His ability to shoot the ball on transition is what takes the Nuggets over the edge in most games so if MPJ can get it going the Nuggets have a good chance at forcing a game 7.