{"id":6818,"date":"2025-05-12T12:44:18","date_gmt":"2025-05-12T12:44:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umyonews.site\/index.php\/2025\/05\/12\/stellar-defensive-effort-from-thunder-lifts-them-over-nuggets-to-tie-series-2-2\/"},"modified":"2025-05-12T12:44:18","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T12:44:18","slug":"stellar-defensive-effort-from-thunder-lifts-them-over-nuggets-to-tie-series-2-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/umyonews.site\/index.php\/2025\/05\/12\/stellar-defensive-effort-from-thunder-lifts-them-over-nuggets-to-tie-series-2-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Stellar defensive effort from Thunder lifts them over Nuggets to tie series 2-2"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> scored 25 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> finally outplayed Denver in crunch time, beating the Nuggets<\/a>, 92-87<\/a>, on Sunday to knot their second-round series at two games apiece.<\/p>\n

The Thunder trailed 69-63 after three quarters and fell behind by eight when Peyton Watson<\/a> started the fourth quarter by swishing a hook shot. But Oklahoma City used an 11-0 run fueled by reserves Cason Wallace<\/a>, who had a pair of 3-pointers, and Aaron Wiggins<\/a>, who added another, to take control.<\/p>\n

Wallace’s second 3-pointer put Oklahoma City ahead for good at 75-73.<\/p>\n

The Nuggets had outlasted the youngest team in the NBA<\/a> with wins in Games 1 and 3, crediting their playoff experience and championship pedigree. And they looked poised to put the top-seeded team in the West on the cusp of elimination when Aaron Gordon’s<\/a> turnaround jumper made it 73-66.<\/p>\n

This time, however, it was the Thunder who came up big down the stretch and the Nuggets who fumbled away the chance to put OKC in a 3-1 hole.<\/p>\n

Game 5 is Tuesday night back in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder had a 43-point blowout of the Nuggets in Game 2.<\/p>\n

Nikola Joki\u0107<\/a> led Denver with 27 points and 13 rebounds. Christian Braun and Jamal Murray<\/a> each had 17 points and Gordon scored 15. Michael Porter Jr. scored just three points after scoring 15 on Friday night.<\/p>\n

Wiggins and Wallace each added 11 points and Alex Caruso<\/a> and Jalen Williams<\/a> each scored 10. Williams was 2 for 13 from the floor after scoring 32 in Game 3.<\/p>\n

The teams played a physical, overtime game on Friday night, not leaving Ball Arena until the early morning hours on Saturday. And the early Mother’s Day start \u2014 1:30 p.m. local time \u2014 led to some tired legs and a ton of errant shots.<\/p>\n

Both teams went 3 for 22 from deep in the first half, and they slumbered through a combined 25-point first quarter, which tied an NBA playoff record for fewest points in the opening quarter.<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City was ahead 42-36 at the half.<\/p>\n

Reporting by The Associated Press.<\/i><\/p>\n

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National Basketball Association<\/span> <\/div>\n

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Oklahoma City Thunder<\/span> <\/div>\n

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Denver Nuggets<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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