By Gio Gloria
It was the play of many and not just one, that put the Oklahoma City Thunder a win away from the Western Conference Finals.
When the fate of a game is hanging in the balance, it’s a player that’s looking to seize control of the narrative. However, in Game 5 of the 2025 Western Conference Semifinals, it was a whole-of-team approach by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Denver Nuggets seemed to be pulling away and taking momentum with them, but the Thunder players did not let up when they played their roles to a tee. Scoring was obviously going to come from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but Lu Dort’s three 3-pointers in a two-minute stretch during the fourth quarter breathed new life into OKC. Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams made the most of their minutes in trying (or perhaps TRYING) to contain Nikola Jokic. Their efforts seemed to pay off as Jokic wasn’t really involved in the Nuggets’ last few offensive possessions despite finishing with 44 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists. Meanwhile, Jalen Williams had been struggling with his shot for much of Game 5, but he knew he had to be ready for when his moment would come.
Given how things have gone so far, the Thunder don’t mind earning wins this way. OKC is a well-constructed roster not just because of the talent, but also because of the way the pieces fit one another. Dort takes on the bulk of defensive duties, while Gilgeous-Alexander handles the scoring. Meanwhile, Chet Holmgren can rely on the likes of Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams for frontcourt defensive assignments while he tries to draw out opposing big men on offense.
Thunder executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti has done an excellent job in organically creating a title contender with an eye to the future thanks to the treasure trove of draft picks he has at his disposal. It’s largely been a youth movement for Presti, who has relied on experience gained rather than allocating resources to veterans. There have been some early returns, but a championship remains the ultimate goal.
There are no guarantees for OKC in Game 6, not only because it will be a road game, but also because of the level of desperation Denver will play with. The Nuggets have relied on their championship experience for much of this season to overcome the various adversities they’ve faced. Jokic will always get his production, so the greater area of focus for the Thunder’s defense will be the support his teammates provide and preventing Aaron Gordon from coming up in the clutch again.
Nonetheless, the Oklahoma City Thunder are happy with where they are now, although they would prefer to end this series sooner rather than later. The Thunder have the talent to advance and go all the way, but with the way OKC has navigated through this postseason, it’s the whole that’s greater than the sum of their parts.
