The 2025 Western Conference
Semifinals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets
have lived up to the hype, with the series knotted at 2-2. As the
teams prepare for a crucial Game 5 in Oklahoma City, both squads
face pressing questions and necessary adjustments to gain the upper
hand. With a trip to the Western Conference Finals on the line,
every possession, coaching decision, and hustle play will matter
more than ever.
— — —
Thunder’s path to regaining control
Assert themselves on the boards
The Thunder’s lack of consistent
rebounding has emerged as one of their most glaring weaknesses in
this series. Despite boasting athletic bigs and switchable wings,
they’ve repeatedly been outmuscled on the glass by Denver’s
physical frontcourt led by Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon. The
Nuggets have often out-rebounded the Thunder, securing offensive
boards that led to multiple second-chance scoring opportunities.
Those extra possessions have proven costly for OKC in close
games.
Part of the issue stems from the
Thunder often playing smaller lineups, which prioritize speed and
switchability over size and physicality. While that identity served
them well in the regular season, playoff basketball demands
toughness in the paint. Oklahoma City will need to play more of
Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein to go up against Jokic and
Gordon, and commit more to boxing out and crashing the boards.
Their guards must also help secure long rebounds and quickly push
the ball in transition, turning defensive stops into offensive
chances.
To win Game 5 and take control
of the series, the Thunder cannot afford to give the Nuggets
repeated second opportunities. Rebounding isn’t just about size,
it’s about desire, positioning, and timing. If OKC can neutralize
Denver’s rebounding edge and limit their putback chances, it could
be a decisive swing factor on their home floor.
Rediscover offensive fluidity
Oklahoma City has struggled to
find its usual offensive rhythm over the past two games. The
Thunder’s offense is built on movement, ball-sharing, and
improvisation – playing freely with joy and confidence. But as the
series has worn on and the physicality has ramped up, OKC has
looked more rigid and hesitant, settling for tough isolation plays
instead of generating quality looks through movement.
In Games 3 and 4, Denver’s
defense disrupted OKC’s pace by pressing up on ball-handlers and
switching effectively on screens. The Thunder have sometimes become
overly reliant on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to bail them out in
late-clock situations. While SGA is an elite shot-creator, Oklahoma
City’s offense thrives most when all five players are involved.
Getting back to their roots – cutting off the ball, pushing in
transition, and trusting each other’s instincts – can unlock the
offensive flow that’s been missing.
Reclaiming that offensive
identity also means trusting players like Cason Wallace and Isaiah
Joe to take open shots and make quick decisions. Jalen Williams,
who has flashed brilliance at times, must stay aggressive and
attack mismatches. If the Thunder return to playing free and
fearless, as they did in their Game 2 blowout win, they’ll be much
harder to guard and far more dangerous heading into a pivotal Game
5.
MVP-caliber performance from Shai
Gilgeous-Alexander
While SGA has delivered solid
numbers throughout the series, Oklahoma City needs a transcendent
Game 5 performance from their MVP candidate. Through four games,
Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 28.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.8
assists – but his impact hasn’t always translated to late-game
success. Denver has thrown multiple defenders at him, forcing tough
midrange shots and limiting his trips to the free-throw line. For
OKC to thrive, SGA must assert himself early and often, controlling
the tempo and creating high-quality looks for both himself and his
teammates.
This is the kind of moment where
MVPs rise above the game plan. Whether it’s hunting mismatches,
collapsing the defense to kick out to shooters, or making timely
defensive plays, SGA has the tools to take over. In Game 2, his
33-point performance was a reminder of what he’s capable of when
he’s in attack mode and dictating the pace. The Thunder need that
version of Shai to show up again in Game 5.
It’s also about leadership. This
young Thunder team looks to SGA not just for scoring, but for
composure and direction in critical moments. With the home crowd
behind him and the series on the line, this is his opportunity to
put a stamp on his MVP-caliber season and carry his team one step
closer to a conference finals berth.
Nuggets’ strategies to steal Game 5
Elevate Nikola Jokic’s impact
Nikola Jokic has not been his
usual dominant self across all four games. While he’s still managed
to put up triple-doubles and impact the game in subtle ways, the
Thunder have made him work harder than usual with their quick
double teams and constant help defense. In Game 4, Jokic finished
with 22 points on just 9-of-22 shooting—a rare inefficient night
for the two-time MVP. For the Nuggets to win on the road, Jokic
must return to the ultra-efficient playmaker and scorer who lifts
everyone around him.
One adjustment could be to get
Jokic more touches at the elbow and the top of the key, where he
can orchestrate Denver’s offense without dealing with immediate
post pressure. From those areas, he can see the floor better and
exploit mismatches or cutters. Additionally, running more two-man
actions with Jamal Murray or Aaron Gordon could help relieve
pressure and force OKC to defend multiple threats
simultaneously.
Jokic’s presence alone bends
defenses, but when he’s assertive and efficient, it unlocks the
Nuggets’ full offensive potential. Denver will need their franchise
cornerstone to set the tone with physicality, precision, and poise
in the hostile OKC environment of Game 5.
Improved Three-Point shooting
The Nuggets’ offensive success
often correlates with their outside shooting. In the games where
they’ve played, Denver pulled away with convincing wins. But when
the shots haven’t fallen, their offense has looked sluggish and
overly reliant on Jokic or Murray to create something late in the
shot clock. Getting back to crisp ball movement and creating open
looks from the perimeter is a priority heading into Game
5.
Michael Porter Jr. and Christian
Braun must convert the clean looks they’re getting. Porter, in
particular, has the shooting gravity to stretch OKC’s defense and
create spacing for Jokic’s interior play. Even Aaron Gordon’s
willingness to take open threes can help Denver keep defenders
honest. Making threes forces OKC to chase and rotate, which opens
up driving lanes and cutting opportunities that Denver thrives
on.
Expect head coach David Adelman
to emphasize early ball reversals and inside-out play to generate
quality three-point chances. If Denver shoots well from deep, it
could swing momentum and silence the Paycom Center crowd in what
promises to be a raucous Game 5 environment.
Boost bench production
In tight playoff matchups, bench
production often makes the difference. For Denver, the second unit
has been a mixed bag this series. They have a particularly shallow
bench led by Russell Westbrook and Peyton Watson, and the Nuggets
need consistent contributions from both of them to keep pace with
OKC’s energetic rotations.
The key is maintaining offensive
rhythm and defensive intensity when Jokic sits. Braun’s ability to
defend, rebound, and finish in transition adds a valuable spark.
Westbrook’s experience and steady playmaking can provide structure
when Murray rests. And Watson’s length and athleticism make him a
disruptive presence on both ends. Each of them must be ready to
seize the moment in what could be the turning point of the
series.
Adelman might also consider
tightening his rotation or staggering starters more effectively to
ensure a balance of scoring and defense. With so much on the line,
every possession from the bench unit carries weight. If Denver’s
reserves can sustain leads – or even swing momentum – it could give
them the edge they need to take Game 5 on the road.
— — —
As Game 5 approaches, the series
hangs in the balance. Both teams have demonstrated resilience and
adaptability, but only one can emerge with a crucial win to take
control. The adjustments made and executed in this game will likely
determine who advances and who faces an offseason of questions. In
a battle between the Thunder and the Nuggets, Game 5 promises to be
a war of wills, strategy, and superstar moments.
