By Daniel Paiz

Missed opportunities for Denver leads to 92-87 loss and series tied 2-2. An ugly start that reversed in the second half nearly had the Nuggets gain a commanding lead, but it wasn’t meant to be. Nikola Jokic had a pedestrian game with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and four steals.

Aaron Gordon’s double-double effort of 16 rebounds and 15 points went to waste despite AG hitting some helpful threes. Jamal Murray and Christian Braun both added 17 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the bad start. This series goes back to OKC tied 2-2 for Game 5.

First Half

Sometimes shots fall, and sometimes things are absolutely abysmal. That first quarter was awful for both teams, but even worse for Denver with eight points in 12 minutes. If SGA didn’t score double digits in the first, it would’ve been equally bad for OKC. Both teams found some resilience in the second, as Jokic had 11 points, six rebounds, and six assists while Braun scored 11 points at the half. The defensive effort has risen by Denver. Finally OKC is getting called for fouling Denver, an issue throughout this series. Very rarely can a half of basketball be summarized so, but these first 24 minutes have been a battle of unintended attrition.

Third Quarter

The ball movement for Denver has been more fluid, and the defensive consistency has led to OKC not hitting their shots. At 6:42 in the third, Aaron Gordon hits a big three to give Denver their first lead of the game, 53-52. The patience exhibited by Denver to find the open guy, to dribble and create spacing for open shots has slowly given them momentum.

This third quarter has felt like previous moments in the postseason for Denver, where the molasses-like speed has worked for the Nuggets. After several possessions back and forth, a hard-fought Murray three makes the score 58-52 with 4:46 to go. There’s almost a feeling of watching plays unfold second by second when it comes to the purposeful playmaking from Denver right now. That paired with steady defense that is leading to bad OKC shots has fully made Ball Arena a rambunctious building. A 33-point third quarter effort from Denver gives the Nuggets a 69-63 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Fourth Quarter

What goes up must come down as Denver’s scoring prowess in the fourth slowly dissipates. OKC found points from three of their bench guys, as well as SGA getting 25 points. Four of Denver’s five starters were in double figures, but Michael Porter Jr. unfortunately had another abysmal scoring game. The bench didn’t help a whole lot either, as Denver had just eight bench points. In contrast, The Thunder had Caruso (10 points), Wiggins (11 points), and Wallace (11 points) which ultimately complimented SGA’s scoring. A 92-87 loss for Denver leads to a tied series at two games apiece.

Keys to Game 5

• Scoring

Both Denver and Oklahoma City had regrettable shooting today, as that first half was just something out of a bad sports movie. This game is one to scrap for the Nuggets, as they must learn to fight through contact when trying to score. Looking for calls will mostly not yield them what they’re seeking. There has to be more fluidity like there was in the third, and less isolation offense, two-man game at the top of the key from the fourth. OKC also had a bad shooting night, so Denver has to recreate that pressure for Game 5. Denver also must hit their free throws. If they hit five of the ten free throws missed tonight, it’s potentially another overtime situation or maybe a close win.

• Defense

This is clearly important every game, but OKC’s bench scoring 35 points is slightly a result of not rotating on defense enough. Slowing down SGA is still the primary goal, but there has to be more effort lowering the impact of the bench. When the bench doesn’t get going, it puts more pressure on everyone not named SGA, and those four other starters are inconsistent scorers. The Nuggets have the experience and poise to win close games, but when they aren’t dialed in on defense, the pressure to score rises. That combination is not one you want to get used to in the playoffs.

A strong start is paramount for the Nuggets, because having to rally from double-digit deficits wears a team down both mentally and physically. OKC isn’t prepared for this kind of drawn-out series like the Nuggets are, and Denver has to use that experience and resilience to their advantage.

Game 5 will decide a whole lot for the outcome of the series.

Bonus Content

Mile High Recap with Plumas Poetic returns for episode 11 below.