The Oklahoma City Thunder are one step away from a huge playoff breakthrough, leading the Denver Nuggets 3-2 as they head to Colorado for Thursday’s crucial Game 6 showdown. Oddsmakers have the Thunder as 4.5-point road favorites despite facing the defending champions on their home court.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his young Thunder squad are trying to do something the franchise hasn’t done since 2016 – reach the Western Conference Finals.
The Thunder grabbed control of the series with a gutsy 112-105 comeback win in Game 5 at home on Tuesday night.
“We’re a better team today than we were at the beginning of the series,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “We’re definitely evolving and growing and learning.”
That growth has been on full display as OKC has won three of the last four games against the defending champs.
Denver’s three-time MVP Nikola Jokic was absolutely dominant in Game 5, pouring in 44 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in a losing effort.
But here’s the crazy part – the Nuggets are now just 2-5 in playoff games when Jokic scores 40+ points.
It’s been a one-man show for Denver lately. Jokic and Aaron Gordon shot a combined 23-for-38 on Tuesday, while the rest of the team struggled badly, hitting just 17 of 59 attempts.
Michael Porter Jr., playing through a painful left shoulder injury, has been particularly ineffective.
“We’ve played well enough to win the last two games,” Porter admitted. “A lot of the reason we lost is because I’m not helping contribute. And that’s tough. That’s really tough. I haven’t been contributing in any way.”
Jamal Murray started hot with 13 points in the third quarter but disappeared when it mattered most, shooting just 1-for-6 in the fourth quarter.
The numbers tell a devastating story for Denver in that final period. Jokic shot 4-for-6. Everyone else? A miserable 1-for-15.
The Thunder have been road warriors lately, winning an incredible 17 of their last 19 games away from home.
ESPN’s Basketball Power Index gives Oklahoma City a 61.9% chance to close out the series Thursday night.
The Nuggets, meanwhile, have struggled with consistency, going just 3-6 in their last nine May contests.
Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET from Ball Arena in Denver, with national coverage on ESPN.
