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New York Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
The Thunder had no urgency in Game 3. How will they respond in Game 4?
MINNEAPOLIS — In accumulating the best record in the NBA and in becoming the team with the best score differential in league history, the Oklahoma City Thunder have made a living of being on the right end of some lopsided scores. There are reasons for this. The Thunder were the best defensive team in the league this season. They are supremely physical. They cause turnovers and make it difficult for opposing teams to run an offense. They have a steely demeanor about them that consistently allows them to keep their foot on the pedal. Advertisement This postseason has yielded four losses for Oklahoma City. In three of them — coming against the Denver Nuggets in what was a wonderful second-round series — the losses happened on the margins. There was an Aaron Gordon game winner in Game 1. There was a bad fourth-quarter stretch in Game 3. There was an improbable run of shots from Denver guard Julian Strawther in Game 6 that clinched a Game 7. Those were all flaws that the Thunder eventually fixed, which is why they are currently in the Western Conference finals. Saturday night's 143-101 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center presents a different challenge to OKC. It's the first time in this playoff that Oklahoma City has been pushed around for 48 minutes. It's the first time the Thunder have gotten proverbially punked. Most importantly, it's the first time OKC hasn't had a real answer for an opponent, which is why they became the 31st team in NBA history to lose a playoff game by at least 40 points. 'We just didn't bring it from an energy and focus standpoint,' Thunder league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. 'We didn't have it. They obviously played with more of a sense of urgency than we did.' Hearing those words from SGA is rather remarkable. What Oklahoma City has been during this playoff run is hungry, even in the games that haven't gone its way. Their superpower lies in how hard they play, folding into how deep they are, folding into how good an individual player and ceiling raiser Gilgeous-Alexander has proven to be. They have been like a ball rolling downhill into championship contention. And after two resounding wins in Oklahoma City to start this series, many had them penciled into the NBA Finals, and most of the NBA world has them as a heavy favorite to become the next NBA champion. So, the Thunder not coming into a Game 3 with no urgency, when they could have put a stranglehold on the series and yanked hope away from the Timberwolves, has to qualify as the most disappointing development of Saturday night for Oklahoma City. Gilgeous-Alexander was correct when he went on to say that no game is perfect, and OKC can't be expected to always play perfect basketball. And on a lot of levels, not having the same desperation as the team down two games in the series isn't truly an indictment on the team with the lead. Minnesota knew its season was over if Saturday night ended with a loss. Oklahoma City simply didn't enter Game 3 facing that kind of pressure. Advertisement The disappointing part is that multiple Thunder players conceded that they didn't come ready to play. It was Minnesota that made the plays needed, and it was the Timberwolves who played the role of aggressor. A lesson needs to be learned in that regard for a young and callow bunch. As good as Oklahoma City is, the Thunder can't afford to just give playoff games away. Hardly any team outside of the peak Golden State Warriors, who were notorious for giving Game 3s away, could afford that. So, the question for the Thunder is this. How do they respond in Monday night's Game 4? 'Whatever they wanted to do, they did,' OKC forward Chet Holmgren said. 'Wherever they wanted to go, they got there. That's the biggest thing. They came out and played with a lot more force than we did. They played with more of an edge than we did tonight, and it really showed.' With 4:39 remaining, and with both benches cleared long before that, the chant through Target Center from the sellout crowd was clear, concise and easy to understand. 'Wolves in six!!!' 'Wolves in six!!!' Of course, in a win, crowds are going to talk. But if Saturday night yielded anything, it was Oklahoma City allowing a measure of belief to Minnesota, its players and its fans. There didn't seem to be any of that following the two blowout wins in Oklahoma City. There is now, and that will make Game 4 a fight. The Thunder have come up big in multiple situations this postseason. Down 2-1 to the Denver Nuggets, OKC played perhaps its best fourth quarter of the postseason to that point to erase an 8-point deficit. Two nights later, on their home floor, the Thunder rallied from an 80-68 deficit to win a Game 5 that proved to be the turning point of the series. And, finally, faced with the pressure of a Game 7, Oklahoma City blew the doors off the Nuggets, ended Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray's season, and advanced to the third round. Advertisement Monday night's Game 4 will be important for Oklahoma City, but not critical, like the three games against the Nuggets were. It is imperative that the Thunder come up with a response to being on the receiving end of a wire-to-wire beatdown for the first time in their playoff run. But even with a loss, Oklahoma City still has the benefit of home-court advantage, and the Thunder have been really good at home. 'I thought their physicality and their pressure stood out, especially early,' Oklahoma City head coach Mark Daigneault said. 'They definitely threw the first punch of the game, and that had a lot to do with it. Schematically, they were a little different, but not a ton. They were more forceful on the offensive end and defensive end of the floor, and that was a tough combination for us.' That, more than anything, is what the Thunder have to answer. They are used to bullying teams physically, despite their lack of size. They eliminate space defensively. They cause turnovers and they make existing offensively difficult. On Saturday night, Minnesota did that to Oklahoma City, and the Thunder wilted in Game 3 because of it. Gilgeous-Alexander, so good in games 1 and 2, scored just 14 points and shot just 4-of-13 from the field. OKC shot just 40 percent from the field overall, and made only 14 of its 44 3-point attempts. The Thunder allowed Minnesota star Anthony Edwards to control the game. And once the game got out of hand, Oklahoma City couldn't find a way to stabilize the scoreboard. An 11-2 run to start the second half proved to be the lone push the Thunder made. But the Timberwolves quickly pushed the lead back beyond 30 points, leading to Daigneault clearing his bench for good midway through the third quarter. On Monday night, OKC is going to have to answer whether Game 3 was a respite or whether it proved to be a turning point in the series. It makes for what will be a fascinating game for the Thunder. 'I think the biggest thing is we have to come out on Monday with the right mindset,' Holmgren said. 'We have to play with force, and that's where it has to start. We have to play with the right amount of energy that it takes to win a playoff game on the road.' (Top photo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander being defended by Rudy Gobert: Bruce Kluckhohn / Imagn Images)
USA Today
19-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Player grades: Thunder devour Nuggets in 125-93 Game 7 win to advance to WCF
Player grades: Thunder devour Nuggets in 125-93 Game 7 win to advance to WCF OKLAHOMA CITY — Squaring off against Julian Strawther, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander salivated at the mouth. He only needed a couple of dribbles to decide he wanted to pull up from deep. After it looked like another outside miss, the ball rolled in after it hit the front of the rim. That was enough for both teams to wave the white flag. The Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the Denver Nuggets in a 125-93 Game 7 win. The 4-3 Round 2 series win has graduated them to the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. What turned into a second-half party looked like a first-half funeral. The Thunder were down early. The moment seemed too big for the young roster. Rattled early on, the Nuggets sped by for an early 11-point lead. The Thunder salvaged the end of the frame but exited the first quarter in a 26-21 deficit. Then everything clicked for the Thunder. An 18-5 run in the final three moments helped them create distance on the scoreboard. The league's best defense sold out on Nikola Jokic to tally limited touches. It worked as every other Denver possession ended in an OKC steal or bad shot attempt. Jalen Williams had one of his best halves with 17 efficient points. The 24-year-old was a threat in transition. Suddenly, the Thunder had a 60-46 halftime lead. Everything went their way with 39 points in the second quarter while the Nuggets only had 20. Going with Alex Caruso over Isaiah Hartenstein, the start of the second half saw the Thunder escalate the score. It didn't take long to see their lead balloon by over 20 points as they scored the first nine points. Gilgeous-Alexander's stepback 3-pointer made it a 69-46 lead less than two minutes in. That sucked all the intrigue out of the Game 7. Awful for 29 other fanbases, awesome for the Thunder. A weekend built around OKC quickly turned forgettable as the Thunder destroyed the Nuggets and led by 20-plus points for the entire second half. The Thunder scored 37 points in the third quarter. They exited the third quarter with a 97-72 lead. It was all over but the crying for the Nuggets. They had to experience another quarter of putrid basketball to sit on the bench and think about what transpired. It took less than five minutes into the fourth quarter for both teams to clear their bench. The Thunder scored 28 points in the final frame to pad their lead. They led by as many as an eye-popping 43 points. To call it a blowout is an understatement. The Thunder shot 49% from the field and went 12-of-39 (30.8%) from 3. They shot 19-of-24 on free throws. They had 28 assists on 47 baskets. Four Thunder players scored double-digit points. Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with an efficient 35 points. Williams had a bounce-back performance with 24 points. Chet Holmgren had a 13-point double-double. Caruso scored 11 points and Hartenstein had 10 points. Meanwhile, the Nuggets shot 39% from the field and went 10-of-45 (22.2%) from 3. They shot 17-of-22 on free throws. They had 20 assists on 33 baskets. Three Nuggets players scored double-digit points. Jokic finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Christian Braun stepped up with 19 points and four rebounds. Jamal Murray only had 13 points on 6-of-16 shooting. Talk about a franchise-altering win. The Thunder had all the pressure in the world. They were younger, more talented, deeper and healthier. They also had homecourt advantage. All the tangibles pointed to OKC being the favorite to beat the Nuggets in Game 7. Not only did they do that, but they devoured the Nuggets. Denver had no chance once OKC shook off early nerves. A historic defense led the way while Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams were their two best scorers. That was the formula they relied upon for their 68-win regular season and did so once again when cornered in an elimination game. Now only four teams remain. The Thunder will face a Timberwolves squad similarly built to them. They have a heliocentric superstar carried by one of the best defenses and have rich depth to go to. But before the Western Conference Finals kick off in two days, let's enjoy the biggest win of the SGA era for the rest of the weekend. Let's look at Thunder player grades: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: A-plus As the entire NBA world watched, Gilgeous-Alexander hit any expectations out of the park in the biggest game of his career. The MVP finalist made Adam Silver's bet look smart to wait another round before they handed him his prestigious trophy. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 35 points on 12-of-19 shooting, four assists and three rebounds. He shot 3-of-4 from 3 and went 8-of-9 on free throws. He also had three steals and a block. After a Game 3 meltdown, Gilgeous-Alexander finally figured out the Nuggets. They were at his mercy. He got to his spots without a problem. He slithered through Denver's zone defense and was relentless in the paint. The jumper was also the best it looked, with killer outside attempts and an automatic two points from the mid-range. When the Nuggets wouldn't concede easy looks, Gilgeous-Alexander was at the free-throw line plenty of times. This was truly the best he's looked all playoffs as he was a four-level scorer from the charity stripe, paint, mid-range and outside. With the Nuggets on the verge of collapse, Gilgeous-Alexander served the knockout punch with 12 quick points in the fourth quarter. The final punctuation was an outside dagger that he's hunted all playoff series. Only fitting that he finally hit it in Game 7 before he checked out for the final time against the Nuggets. Jalen Williams: A-plus Hounding Jokic in the post, Williams knocked the entry pass out of his possession. The 24-year-old outran him for the loose ball and threw down the transition jam that sent the OKC crowd into a frenzy. The steal-and-score sequence pushed the Thunder's lead to double-digit points and stayed that way the rest of the game. Talk about a comeback. Williams finished with 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting, seven assists and five rebounds. He shot 2-of-5 from 3 and went 2-of-3 on free throws. He also had a steal. As the Thunder avalanched the Nuggets in the second quarter, Williams was the snowball that rolled downhill. He scored 17 points in the frame alone. The 24-year-old got into a flow and was a threat in transition. After Denver turned it over every other possession, he broke off from the rest for buckets. Absent from social media for the last two days, Williams ran his victory lap online. The social media savant posted a Dez Bryant clip that egged doubters on to continue to talk crap after a standout performance. Sounds familiar? After a Game 6 stinker, the 24-year-old was the scapegoat for the frustrating loss. Williams had to sleep on that performance for two days. The early returns in Game 7 looked similar. But a second-quarter takeover flipped the talking points as the 24-year-old showed in a do-or-die situation that he could be a viable second scorer. Chet Holmgren: B When the Thunder couldn't score, Holmgren's baseline alley-oops were the perfect medicine. Denver conceded those looks in its zone defense, but it came back to bite. It helped OKC stay within striking distance in the second quarter before they blew past it on the scoreboard. Holmgren finished with 13 points on 4-of-9 shooting, 11 rebounds and one assist. He shot 0-of-3 from 3 and went 5-of-6 on free throws. He also had a steal and a block. The Nuggets' offense failed to roll along. The Thunder ensured Jokic would seldom touch the ball and force everybody else to beat them. The bet paid off as Denver couldn't generate quality looks as its three-time MVP winner was swarmed when he looked to receive a pass. Holmgren had his shots at Jokic. The seven-footer was also a plus on offense. He got to the free-throw line a healthy amount and kept the scoreboard moving. He was sufficient as the sole center as the Thunder faded away from their double-big lineup in the second half. Alex Caruso: A-plus Pressing up on Aaron Gordon, Lu Dort forced another turnover before the injured Denver starter could even get past halfcourt. Caruso had an up-close view of the steal and broke away from everybody else in transition. He was rewarded with a rare two-handed dunk before he swung around the rim. This is why you traded for Caruso. He was a defensive catalyst and was one of the five players Daigneault trusted the most. He finished with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting, three assists and three steals. He shot 1-of-3 from 3. Despite the size disadvantage, Caruso had no problem battling down low with Jokic. The three-time MVP couldn't get going against the Thunder and was held to just nine shot attempts in a Game 7. The physical perimeter defender became a post-up stopper. The Thunder needed Caruso to step up. The 31-year-old did. Being the only player on the roster with a ring, he understands what it takes to reach those heights. They saved his legs in the regular season for this game. He delivered with outstanding defense and big-time buckets to bury Denver. Cason Wallace: A Punching the ball out of Jokic's hands, Wallace created a steal-and-score sequence that was just another victory lap to an inevitable outcome. The Thunder's three-headed POA defensive monster usually haunts perimeter scorers' dreams, but Jokic will be an exception. Wallace finished with seven points on 3-of-10 shooting, five assists and three rebounds. He shot 1-of-6 from 3. He also had two steals. It wasn't the flashiest box score, but Wallace played his role in the Thunder's defensive takeover. He haunted the Nuggets with passing lane disruptions and shut down one-on-one defense. There's a reason why he made Daigneault's eight-player rotation before the game was blown open. Being the Thunder's best-kept secret, the playoffs graduated Wallace as a household name. His raw defensive talent was fully displayed in this Game 7 as he was part of the swarm of defenders thrown at Jokic's way. Highlights:
USA Today
18-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Nuggets enjoyed role players home cooking in Game 6. It's the Thunder's turn for Game 7
Nuggets enjoyed role players home cooking in Game 6. It's the Thunder's turn for Game 7 As Nikola Jokic went deep into the paint in the post, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's double-team bet failed. Julian Strawther was left open at the corner and knocked down a 3-pointer that served as a dagger. In a do-or-die scenario, the Denver Nuggets survived against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 119-107 Game 6 win. The back-and-forth affair will reach a dramatic Game 7 on Sunday. Only fitting considering the West heavyweights have exchanged blows. The Nuggets fought off elimination with some home cooking. They went 27-of-32 on free throws while the Thunder went just 10-of-16. The discrepancy gifted Denver 17 more points in a 12-point result. But the other big variable that favored them was their role players. Christian Braun had his best game of the playoff series with 23 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Julian Strawther was an unlikely hero with 15 points off the bench. He scored eight straight points to put the game away in the second half. The old saying goes that role players play better at home. The Thunder hope they get similar luck at Game 7. Lu Dort had his best moment of the series in Game 5 when he redeemed himself with 12 loud points for OKC to secure the win. Maybe Dort can have another moment with Game 7. After all, his "Big Game Lu" moniker started in Game 7 against the Houston Rockets way back in the 2020 NBA Bubble. If not him, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe could be other candidates. Neither has had a highlight moment yet, but they are due outside makes. Or maybe Alex Caruso could have a Game 1-esque performance where he had 20 points and five steals that went in vain because of Aaron Gordon's game-winner. Plenty of candidates fill the Thunder's rich depth that could copy what Braun and Strawther did. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will dominate. He's played like an MVP finalist in every game this playoff series besides Game 3. If the rest of OKC's supporting cast can step up, it'll help improve its odds to beat the Nuggets and face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals.
New York Post
16-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Nuggets saved by the most unlikely of playoff heroes to force Game 7 vs. Thunder
With the Denver Nuggets' season on the brink, the usual Nikola Jokic bat signal was answered by an unfamiliar face. Julian Strawther, a reserve player who mostly gets mop-up duty for the Nuggets and was otherwise a 'did not play, coach's decision' in five games these playoffs, caught fire for Denver in the third quarter of their 119-107 Game 6 home win over the Thunder. Strawther checked into Thursday's Game 6 with 3:07 left in the third quarter and the Nuggets leading, 80-78. Advertisement 4 The crowd goes wild as Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther nails a 3-pointer in the third quarter. AP The second-year pro out of Gonzaga, drafted No. 29 in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Pacers, put on a show, immediately grabbing an offensive rebound and drilling back-to-back 3-pointers that did not even hit the rim. Advertisement Strawther scored eight points in the final 97 seconds of the third quarter to help the Nuggets build a 90-82 lead after three quarters and they never looked back. Strawther's heroics were much needed for the Nuggets and ended the game with a playoff career-high of 15 points and shot 3 of 4 from beyond the arc. 'I think we all came through as a collective,' Strawther said on the court postgame. 'We couldn't do this one man at a time. We had to come together as a group … My guys found me in spots and I took shots I know I could make. I understood the assignment.' He later said in the locker room: 'That's the moments you dream of when you was a little kid.' Advertisement 4 Strawther shoots against the Thunder in Game 6. Getty Images 4 Strawther became a hero for a night. Getty Images After Strawther nailed his second 3-pointer in less than a minute, he high-fived a fan in the front row as he ran down the other end of the court. His last 3-pointer gave the Nugget a 109-93 lead with less than four minutes remaining and all but sealed the game, eliciting a raucous ovation from the crowd. Advertisement 'I don't even remember, honestly,' he said. His standout performance is all the more memorable since it seemingly came out of nowhere. Strawther is averaging just 8.8 minutes per game in these playoffs, producing just four points per game even including Thursday's outburst. 4 Strawther celebrates with a teammate. Getty Images Denver now heads back to Oklahoma City for Game 7 opposite a Thunder team that was a Goliath during the regular season. The No. 1 seed has shown cracks in their armor in this series against the Nuggets, though, while Denver will hope to show that championship pedigree in a win-or-go-home game.
The Guardian
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Super sub Strawther loses tooth as Nuggets force Game 7 against Thunder
Now this was finally a role Julian Strawther could sink his teeth into, even if it cost him one. Playing meaningful extended minutes for first time in the series, the Denver Nuggets guard provided a spark off the bench as he scored all 15 of his points in the second half Thursday night. His big game helped propel Denver to a 119-107 victory over the Thunder and force a Game 7 on Sunday in Oklahoma City. 'That's the moment you dream of when you're a little kid – come to the game, having all the guys believe in you, find you in your spots and be able to just make an impact on the game,' said Strawther, a second-year player out of Gonzaga. Strawther certainly left it all on the floor, including a tooth (a prosthetic one) that happened to pop out in the fourth quarter when he took contact from an Oklahoma City player. He tried to get the officials to stop play long enough to gather it up. But the action was already heading the other way. A ball boy scooped it up for him in a towel and returned it to the bench. By the time Strawther addressed the media following the game, he had it back in place. He explained that after he lost a baby tooth as a kid, the adult version – located on the right side next to his front tooth – never grew in. 'We got it back,' Strawther said. Just like that, the Nuggets are going back to OKC. It was their sole mission after frittering away a fourth-quarter lead and losing there in Game 5. The Nuggets bench made a big impact behind the play of Strawther, Russell Westbrook (eight points) and Peyton Watson (four). Sure, the reserves of the Thunder outscored them 32-27. Before Thursday, though, the average production of the bench was 34-22 through five games in favor of the Thunder. '[Julian] was amazing,' said Nikola Jokić, who had 29 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. 'He had the big points, the big moments of the game.' Strawther finished 3 of 4 from 3-point range and 4 of 4 from the line. Above all, he helped the Nuggets maintain their momentum in the fourth quarter as Jokić sat on the bench to get some valuable rest. Strawther played 19 1/2 minutes, his playoff high. This after being limited to 14 minutes combined over the last three games, including a 'DNP' – did not play – in Game 3. Interim coach David Adelman told him to stay ready. He listened. 'Understanding that there's a night that I may not check in at all,' Strawther explained. 'And there's a night like tonight where he's going to ride with me. 'Me and [Adelman] have had a transparent relationship through these playoffs, and I'm really appreciative for him throwing me out there tonight.' His role may increase even more depending on the status of Aaron Gordon, who hurt his left hamstring late in the game. 'I feel OK. We'll see,' Gordon said after the game. 'I'm going to start the recovery process now, to make sure I'm ready for a Game 7.' Another player who found a groove was banged-up forward Michael Porter Jr, who was 4 of 9 for 10 points. He's been dealing with a sprained left shoulder. 'For me, with what I've been through, there's so much extra things I have to be on top of,' explained Porter, who said he had a lidocaine injection in his shoulder before Game 6 and plans to have another leading into Sunday. 'Since I hurt my shoulder I'm not able to be on top of things like I want to. ... I don't feel as comfortable and confident in my shot as I want to feel throughout these playoffs. 'But I'm still out there and still trying to space the floor and shooting it when I'm getting it, whether it goes in or out. I just have to stay confident.'
