The Oklahoma City Thunder are at home on Tuesday night as they host the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 of their second-round matchup.
Tuesday’s contest is a crucial one for both teams with the series being tied at 2-2 as both squads will look to pick up a victory to take command of the series.
Of course, the Thunder were able to grab a pivotal victory in Game 4 in Denver on Saturday afternoon to tie up the series.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) defends a drive by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2).
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) defends a drive by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2).
Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Now the Thunder will look to take control of the series on their home court on Tuesday night with a victory and have a chance to end the series on the road in Denver on Thursday night.
For the Thunder, they will also enter Tuesday’s game with a fully healthy roster as they have just one player listed on their injury report.
That player is rookie guard Nikola Topic who has missed his entire campaign due to a torn ACL he suffered last summer.
With Oklahoma City having their core healthy, they will look to pick up a massive victory in Game 5 on their home court on Tuesday night and they will need their supporting cast to step up again around their star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Oklahoma City will not only have home-court advantage on Tuesday night but they will also continue to have the depth advantage thanks to the incredible play from their bench, something that Denver has not gotten from theirs.
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon guards Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at Ball Arena.
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon guards Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at Ball Arena.
Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
On the other side, the Nuggets will enter Tuesday’s game without two players as they have ruled out both DaRon Holmes II and Hunter Tyson.
Despite this, neither player was in their rotation so the Nuggets will have a healthy rotation despite Michael Porter Jr. continuing to play through a shoulder injury.
Fans can catch Tuesday’s Game 5 matchup between the Nuggets and Thunder at 9:30 p.m. EST on TNT.