Thunder even series against Nuggets at 2-2

The Oklahoma City Thunder walked away with the 92-87 win to even their playoff series against the Denver Nuggets at 2-2, despite the Nuggets finding their three-point shooting prowess in the third quarter.

The Thunder were led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 25 points, and their bench also chipped in, scoring 35 points. 

Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace had 11 of those 35 points, and Alex Caruso had 10. All three were able to knock down three-pointers at a 40% rate and higher, combining for eight of the team’s 10 total threes in a game where three-point consistency was needed. 

The Thunder, though, had the advantage in the first half, but not by much – they scored 16 points in the paint, and they were also successful defensively, ending the half with seven steals and two blocks, forcing the Nuggets into eight turnovers. 

However, both teams struggled from the three-point line, shooting 3-for-22 from three in the half. This prevented the Thunder from running away with the game early on, and they entered the third quarter with only a six-point lead. 

The Thunder also sent the Nuggets to the free throw line 14 times for 13 points in the second quarter, aiding a team that only scored six field goals in the quarter. The Nugget’s defensive success did not make the first half easier either. 

The Nuggets forced the Thunder into eight turnovers in the first two quarters, having five steals and one block. The Nuggets also had the momentum in the third quarter. 

They found their rhythm from three in the frame, shooting 7-for-11. Jamal Murray and Christian Braun, who both finished with 17 points, each knocked down two three-pointers. Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic, and Russell Westbrook also contributed one three-pointer apiece. 

This led them to enter the fourth with a 69-63 lead, but the Thunder regained the edge in the final quarter. 

Wallace went 2-for-2 from three, and Wiggins knocked down one as well. Gilgeous-Alexander found success off the dribble, scoring nine points. 

Eight of those nine points were scored from the 5:28 mark to the 2:22 mark, stretching their lead from one to seven with little time left to play. 

Meanwhile, the Nuggets went cold from three, shooting 1-for-12. Jokic scored 27 points in the game to go along with Murray and Braun. Gordon also added 15 points, but Michael Porter Jr. only scored three points, shooting 1-for-7. 

Their bench did not fare better, with Westbrook shooting 2-12, scoring six points in 27 minutes. The Nuggets only utilized two other players off their bench, who did not see more than nine minutes, for a total of eight bench points between the three.