Thunder vs. Nuggets: A Tough Playoff Battle

The Thunder’s Dominant Regular Season

The Oklahoma City Thunder had an impressive regular season. They achieved one of the best records in NBA history. The team set a league record for the largest scoring differential. On average, they outscored teams by 12.9 points per game.

The Playoff Challenge

However, the Thunder’s second-round series against the Denver Nuggets is proving to be tough. The Nuggets have superstar Nikola Jokic and plenty of experience. With the series tied at 2, the Thunder are ready for the challenge.

Coach’s Perspective

“We’re a better team than we were at the start of the series,” said Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault. “We’re learning and growing through these experiences. These games teach us valuable lessons. Each time we face a challenge and overcome it, we gain confidence and mental strength.”

Jokic’s Struggles

In the last three games, Jokic has faced difficulties. He’s made only 21 of 63 field goals (33.3 percent) and 4 of 22 three-pointers (18.2 percent). He’s averaging just 5.0 assists per game. During the regular season, he shot less than 40 percent only once. But he hasn’t reached that mark since Game 1 of this series.

Jokic’s Response

“It’s a bit of everything,” Jokic said. “They’re playing strong defense against me. They’re physical and handsy, shrinking the floor. I need to improve, but it’s part of the game.”

The Nuggets’ Resilience

Despite Jokic’s struggles, the Nuggets have kept the series close. “We need to give ourselves a chance,” Jokic said. “We must be more physical and aggressive.”

Gilgeous-Alexander’s Performance

Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, an MVP finalist, is averaging 27.5 points. He’s shooting 47.5 percent from the floor in the series. He’s also getting to the free-throw line more than nine times per game.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s Insight

“This series has thrown many challenges at us,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We’ve done a great job of accepting where we are. We’re staying true to who we’ve been all season.”

Team Depth and Rotation

The series has shown Oklahoma City’s depth. The Thunder have 10 players who have played in every game of the series. Each is averaging 10 or more minutes per game.

Denver has mostly used a seven-man rotation in the series. In Sunday’s loss, the only bench player who played more than nine minutes was Russell Westbrook.

Coach’s Strategy

“We need more from more players,” said Nuggets interim coach David Adelman. “I might need to play more than eight guys.”