The series between the Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder has the feel of a phonebooth slugfest. Will Game 5 be as tight and thrilling? With the affair tied at 2-2, the Nuggets will look to prevent OKC from getting the series lead for the first time, but that is going to be easier said than done with the Thunder hosting Game 5. With that said, it’s time to check out our preview of this huge and pivotal matchup.
Catch this game live on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 9:30 AM, Manila time.
Away: Denver Nuggets (2-2)
Projected Starting Five:
- Jamal Murray
- Christian Braun
- Michael Porter Jr.
- Aaron Gordon
- Nikola Jokic
The Nuggets failed to secure a 3-1 series lead after losing in Game 4 last Monday, 92-87. The loss in Game 4 also amplified the concern about the form of three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic, who scored 27 points in that contest but shot just 7-for-22 from the floor. Perhaps fatigue is starting to set in on the Serbian star, but Denver still can’t afford for him to continue such a spiral.
Over the last two games, Jokic has shot just 31.9 percent from the field with an average of 5.0 turnovers. Jokic’s letdown form of late is also a wake-up call for the other Nuggets to step up and give the center ample help. Michael Porter Jr. surely did not answer that call in Game 4, where he scored just three points on 1-for-7 shooting. Meanwhile, Jamal Murray only made five of 15 shots for 17 points. Russell Westbrook came off the bench and bricked 10 of his 12 attempts from the field before finishing with six points. Denver has to get it together as a team and not just Jokic.
Home: Oklahoma City Thunder (2-2)
Projected Starting Five:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Luguentz Dort
- Jalen Williams
- Chet Holmgren
- Isaiah Hartenstein
Between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic in Game 4, it was the former who looked more like an MVP. The former Kentucky Wildcats star had 25 points on 8-for-19 shooting. However, credit for the Thunder’s win should also go to SGA’s supporting cast, including OKC’s bench. The Thunder’s backups outscored their Denver counterparts by a wide margin in Game 4, 35-8.
In what has been a tough, grind-it-out series, the role of the bench is getting more magnified, so the likes of Alex Caruso, Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace could be bigger factors in Game 5. Meanwhile, the tag-team defense of Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren on Jokic is seemingly working out. Their rebounding has also been a huge factor in the series. In Game 4, Hartenstein and Holmgren combined for 27 of the Thunder’s 55 boards. So far in the second round, the Thunder are averaging 116.0 points and 25.5 assists per game – both better than Denver’s.
Picks
Spread: Oklahoma City Thunder (-10.5)
Over/Under: Over (221.0)
