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The Oklahoma City Thunder will host the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday (May 13) for Game Five of the Western Conference semi-final series, with the series currently tied at two games each. The Thunder, who finished the regular season with a league-best 68-14 record, are looking to capitalize on their home-court advantage.
In the previous matchup on Sunday (May 11), the Thunder secured a narrow 92-87 victory over the Nuggets, thanks to a strong fourth-quarter performance. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 25 points, including nine in the final quarter, while Nikola Jokic topped the Nuggets with 27 points and 13 rebounds. Despite Jokic's efforts, the Nuggets struggled with shooting, hitting only 31% of their shots and missing 34 three-point attempts.
The Thunder's young roster, the youngest in the NBA, showed resilience by coming back from an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Coach Mark Daigneault emphasized the team's growing experience, stating, "Every time you take punches and you get back up, you get stronger." The Thunder's defense was crucial in the win, limiting the Nuggets to just 18 points in the final quarter.
As the series returns to Oklahoma City, the Thunder will rely on their strong conference record and offensive firepower, averaging 120.5 points per game. The Nuggets, meanwhile, will look to overcome their recent shooting struggles and capitalize on Jokic's playmaking abilities. The game is set to tip off at 8:30 p.m.