A Defensive Slugfest: Thunder Grind Out Crucial Win Over Nuggets
No one expected fireworks in Game 4, but nobody saw this coming—a first quarter where both teams looked stuck in mud. Just 25 points were scored in total, an NBA playoff record low for any game's first period. The scoreboard read 17-8 in favor of the Thunder after twelve minutes, giving fans a taste of just how tight this series has become.
This slow start set the tone for a night ruled by defense and gritty hustle, where every basket seemed hard-earned. Oklahoma City, desperate to avoid falling behind 3-1 in the series, looked sharper from the jump. Their defense clogged the paint and closed out on shooters, containing a Nuggets squad that's known for its offensive firepower. Jalen Williams, though he didn’t fill the stat sheet, made his presence felt in a big way—especially with a clutch defensive stop in the final moments to thwart Denver’s last burst of hope.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Leads the Charge; Nuggets’ Defense Falters
What does a playoff star look like? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander answered that question with an elite, steady performance when it mattered. He poured in 25 points, making the right reads and attacking when he saw daylight. Every time Denver threatened a comeback, SGA cooled the fire—sometimes with a smooth pull-up, sometimes with a sneaky drive.
Christian Brown stepped up as well, contributing 17 points for the Thunder. His off-ball movement and willingness to get physical inside made a difference. The Thunder scored crucial points off dribble penetration and second-chance looks, taking advantage of a Denver Nuggets defense that never fully got comfortable guarding the perimeter.
On the Nuggets' side, Nikola Jokić did what he always does—anchor the offense, find mismatches, and pile up points in tough moments. He kept Denver in the game and engineered a brief third-quarter surge, aided by Aaron Gordon’s physicality and energy. At one point, Denver even took a slender lead. But the Thunder responded, using timely stops and capitalizing on missed rotations by the Nuggets to reclaim command late in the third and keep control through the fourth.
Down the stretch, it was Oklahoma City’s relentless commitment to contesting shots and chasing loose balls that stood out. Jalen Williams’ late deflection on a Nuggets drive in the closing seconds helped preserve a fragile lead, giving the Thunder the breathing room they desperately needed.
As the clock expired, the Thunder bench erupted. A 2-2 tie in the series means everything is back on the line. Momentum has shifted once again, and all eyes now turn to Oklahoma City. Game 5 will play out in front of a raucous home crowd, each team chasing a ticket to the franchise-defining conference finals. For the Thunder, there’s a real shot at their first return since 2016. You can expect Game 5 to be a battle—just maybe not one for the highlight reels, but definitely for the history books.
