Nuggets Face Elimination as Thunder Seek to Advance to Western Conference Finals
The Denver Nuggets are staring at a daunting task as they prepare to host the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of their second-round series, trailing 3-2. According to Jamal Murray, the Nuggets guard, the team is "very confident" that they can force a deciding Game 7, as reported by the NBA.
"We’re going to go play the game in Denver, and then we get to come back," Murray said after Tuesday’s 112-105 loss in Oklahoma City, hinting at a Game 7 that would take place on Sunday. "We’ve just got to keep a good mindset. It’s not like we’re playing a bad brand of basketball. It’s not like we’re playing selfish. It comes down to getting a couple stops to win the game," as quoted in the original article from the NBA.
The Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 31 points in Game 5, have shown remarkable composure in the face of adversity. In Games 4 and 5, they rallied from significant fourth-quarter deficits to secure victories. Lu Dort’s three critical 3-pointers in a two-minute stretch helped propel the Thunder to a win in Game 5.
"We always say the answer is never a hero play or anything out of the ordinary," Gilgeous-Alexander said, as reported by the NBA. "It’s being who we are. It’s trusting each other." The Thunder’s ability to trust each other and play unselfishly has been a key factor in their success this season.
One concern for the Nuggets is the fatigue of their starting five, which has played roughly 951 minutes in the series, 138 more than Oklahoma City’s starters. Denver’s bench depth is limited, with Russell Westbrook, Peyton Watson, and occasionally Julian Strawther being the only reliable options. The Nuggets’ starting five have struggled in the fourth quarter of their last two games, combining for just 12 of 44 shots from the field, including 2 of 24 from 3-point range.
Nikola Jokić, the three-time NBA MVP, was a bright spot for the Nuggets in Game 5, scoring 44 points on 17-of-25 shooting. However, the rest of the team struggled, combining for just 1 of 15 shots from the field in the fourth quarter, including 0-for-10 from 3-point range. "If it is fatigue, that’s on me," Nuggets interim head coach David Adelman said, as quoted in the NBA. "If guys are tired or had tired legs, that’s the decisions I’m making."
In contrast, the Thunder have utilised a deep bench, with nine players seeing at least 10 minutes of action in Game 5. This versatility has been a hallmark of the Thunder’s season, and they will look to exploit the Nuggets’ lack of depth in Game 6.
The Nuggets are searching for ways to ignite a banged-up Michael Porter Jr., who is wearing a pad on his sprained left shoulder. Porter was held to just two points on Tuesday, going 0 for 5 from 3-point range. "When he’s open, he needs to take it, and we want him to take a shot," Jokić said, as reported by the NBA.
As the Nuggets prepare to host Game 6, they are confident that they can force a deciding Game 7. "We’re not going to go and just give them Game 6," Jokić said. "We will play our best." Murray echoed this sentiment, saying that the team is "very confident" that they can extend the series.
The Nuggets’ confidence level heading into Game 6 is high, but they will need to be at their best to overcome the Thunder. As Murray said, "I don’t think ‘Joke’ should be going through any type of slander when he’s still playing all-NBA-, MVP-, Hall of Fame-type of level. He’s been playing amazing. He does everything he can to win every single night," as quoted in the original article from the NBA.
