The Nuggets defeated the Thunder in Game 6 in Denver on Thursday, blowing the game open and keeping it out of reach in the fourth quarter. This comes one game after the Nuggets gave away a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter to lose on the road.
Interim coach David Adelman shouldered the blame for the fourth quarter woes in Game 5, per The Denver Post’s Bennett Durando. That game saw Nikola Jokic play the entire second half. This time around, the Nuggets were able to give Jokic some rest — for nearly four minutes of game time — and he was able to come back into the game with a larger lead than when he left.
Part of the reason for Denver’s impressive fourth quarter was the stellar play of Julian Strawther, who scored seven of his 15 points in the final frame.
We have more on the Nuggets:
- Jamal Murray was questionable to play in Thursday’s game due to an illness, as we reported. However, Murray pushed through and recorded 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in 42 minutes of play. After the game, Adelman credited the medical staff for getting him to a point where he could play, per the Denver Gazette’s Vinny Benedetto (Twitter link). “That’s Jamal Murray,” Adelman said. “It’s almost like the worse it is, the better he’s going to be. What a tough-minded man.“
- Aaron Gordon appeared to injure his left hamstring late in the game. According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN (Twitter link), concern about Gordon’s hamstring is “high,” per Adelman, but the team is fortunate to have two days between games to maximize any potential recovery time.
- Jokic couldn’t care less about his shooting percentages or protecting his counting stats, as MacMahon writes. “Nobody should care about that at this time of the year,” Jokic said. The MVP candidate is putting up halfcourt heaves at a high rate this series. “Most great shooters care about their stats. Bottom line,” Adelman said. “We’ve seen a lot of examples of guys taking shots just as the clock goes off or making that late pass to not take a bad shot. For Nikola to shoot the percentage he shoots and still shoot those shots — because, hey, there’s a chance it goes in and a chance it wins you the game — just shows how unselfish he is in all ways.“
On the road in game 7, nuggets will need more from Porter Jr. 4 of 6 games single digit scoring. They need more
MPJ is disappointment in human form.
Nothing better than a gm 7 in the playoffs . Love it
OKC plays pretty bad when Jokic is not on the court. Can’t let guys like Strawther and Watson keep even.
Gordon will be fine like Murray was “Sick”
So, when does Shaivonte Gorgeous-Alexander get announced as MVP? It’s awfully late and risky to name him MVP before a game 7 against the man that finishes 2nd, even more so if the Nuggets somehow pull this off.
The Nuggets have been bipolar all season.
They go on stretches where they look like a championship contender and then go on a stretch where they look like a play in team.
Move Porter to the bench already.
How OKC couldn’t hold the lead is mind boggling!
Couldn’t hit a shot. Jalen was off unfortunately. Refs also calling ticky tack fouls with SGA sitting him with 4 in the 2nd qtr up 12 didn’t help but it was expected in Denver.