Stellar defensive effort from Thunder lifts them over Nuggets to tie collection 2-2

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 factors and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder lastly outplayed Denver in crunch time, beating the Nuggets 92-87 on Sunday to knot their second-round collection at two video games apiece.

The Thunder trailed 69-63 after three quarters and fell behind by eight when Peyton Watson began the fourth quarter by swishing a hook shot. However Oklahoma Metropolis used an 11-0 run fueled by reserves Cason Wallace, who had a pair of 3-pointers, and Aaron Wiggins, who added one other, to take management.

Wallace’s second 3-pointer put Oklahoma Metropolis forward for good at 75-73.

The Nuggets had outlasted the youngest workforce within the NBA with wins in Video games 1 and three, crediting their playoff expertise and championship pedigree. They usually appeared poised to place the top-seeded workforce within the West on the cusp of elimination when Aaron Gordon’s turnaround jumper made it 73-66.

This time, nonetheless, it was the Thunder who got here up large down the stretch and the Nuggets who fumbled away the possibility to place OKC in a 3-1 gap.

Recreation 5 is Tuesday night time again in Oklahoma Metropolis, the place the Thunder had a 43-point blowout of the Nuggets in Recreation 2.

Nikola Jokic led Denver with 27 factors and 13 rebounds. Christian Braun and Jamal Murray every had 17 factors and Gordon scored 15. Michael Porter Jr. scored simply three factors after scoring 15 Friday night time.

Wiggins and Wallace every added 11 factors and Alex Caruso and Jalen Williams every scored 10. Williams was 2 for 13 from the ground after scoring 32 in Recreation 3.

The groups performed a bodily, additional time recreation Friday night time, not leaving Ball Area till the early morning hours on Saturday. And the early Mom’s Day begin — 1:30 p.m. native time — led to some drained legs and a ton of errant photographs.

Each groups went 3 for 22 from deep within the first half they usually slumbered by way of a mixed 25-point first quarter, which tied an NBA playoff file for fewest factors within the opening quarter.

Oklahoma Metropolis was forward 42-36 on the half.

Reporting by The Related Press.

Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account, comply with leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a personalised publication every day!