Facing the prospect of a daunting 3-1 series deficit, the Oklahoma City Thunder clawed their way back to even ground, defeating the defending champion Denver Nuggets 92-87 in a gritty Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Sunday afternoon.
It was a win defined by toughness, timely shooting, and late-game resilience — hallmarks of a young Thunder team that continues to punch above its weight as the top seed in the West.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again led the charge for Oklahoma City, finishing with 25 points, including nine in the fourth quarter. His steady hand in crunch time helped the Thunder erase an eight-point deficit early in the final frame, as OKC flipped the script on a Denver team long known for its ability to close out tight playoff games.
“We just had to stay composed,” Gilgeous-Alexander said postgame. “This is the playoffs. Nothing’s going to come easy, and we wanted to make sure we were the ones making the plays late.”
The game turned on an 11-0 Thunder run, sparked by unlikely heroes off the bench. Rookie guard Cason Wallace drilled a pair of clutch 3-pointers, including the go-ahead triple to make it 75-73, while Aaron Wiggins added another from deep to fuel the comeback. It was a run that seized momentum and ultimately the game from a Nuggets squad that looked ready to bury Oklahoma City after Aaron Gordon’s turnaround jumper put Denver up 73-66.
Instead, it was Denver who faltered late — a rare sight for a battle-tested group that has won six of its last seven playoff series. The Nuggets were undone by a flurry of mistakes, including a critical five-second inbounds violation with the game still within reach.
Nikola Jokic led Denver with 27 points and 13 rebounds, but managed just three assists — a postseason low for the reigning NBA Finals MVP. His 22 assists to 23 turnovers in the series have been emblematic of Denver’s struggles against the Thunder’s swarming, disciplined defense.
“Fatigue isn’t an excuse,” Jokic said. “We just didn’t make shots.”
Indeed, Denver shot a miserable 31% from the field and went just 11-for-45 from beyond the arc. The early 12:30 p.m. Mother’s Day tipoff — just 36 hours after Friday’s grueling overtime Game 3 — resulted in an ugly opening half, with the two teams combining for only 25 points in the first quarter and Oklahoma City holding a 42-36 edge at halftime.
Despite the slog, the Thunder’s defense once again stood tall, holding Denver to just 87 points and making life difficult for Jamal Murray, who struggled to find rhythm throughout.
The series, now tied at 2-2, heads back to Oklahoma City for a pivotal Game 5 on Tuesday night. After splitting two tight games earlier in the series, the pressure is squarely on Denver to regain control — but the young Thunder, battle-tested beyond their years, appear more than ready for the moment.
“It’s the playoffs. Every possession matters,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “And today, our guys made the ones that mattered most.”
Can OKC ride this momentum back home, or will Denver respond like champions once again? Game 5 promises to be another tense chapter in a series that’s becoming a classic.
