(Thunder lead series 3-2)
In an inverse of Game 1, the Thunder outplayed the Nuggets in a high pressure, high stakes closing stretch of Game 4 to take command of the series. Once more, Nikola Jokic went for 40+ and helped Denver dominate the boards, but OKC held his supporting cast in check. Despite some early struggles cracking Denver's defensive schemes, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned to form over the course of the game, scoring a familiar 31 points and nailing a dagger with familiar confidence to put the Nuggets to bed.
Jokic went 5-7 from three, while his teammates went 8-39. Bad Russ, Bad MPJ, and Bad Braun looked like shaky role players on the road, while OKC's role players looked like home-boosted x-factors we're supposed to expect in the playoffs. Lu Dort did one of his postseason no-no-no-no-yes-yes-yes routines, with three momentous threes made in the fourth quarter just one game after being benched for the final frame.
Jokic's herculean performance notwithstanding, Chet Holmgren (14 pts, 8 rbs, 3 stocks) was a force inside all night, combining with Isaiah Hartenstein to go 13-19 from the field. Chet, iHart, Dort, Jalen Williams, and Alex Caruso all scored in the double digits and played lockdown defense, holding Denver to multiple, extended scoreless stretches to close the gap.
Next up: The Thunder get their first chance to close out the series on Thursday in Denver.