Oklahoma City and Denver face each other for the first time since their 2025 Western Conference Semifinals matchup. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić were dueling for MVP before Jokić's untimely injury, but he is back for this contest. It should be a highly entertaining battle between the two best players in the world. 

As a refresher, check out the Thunder’s best moments from its playoff series against the Nuggets. 

The Nuggets entered Game 4 with a 2-1 series lead and was up 73-66 with 10:57 remaining in the fourth quarter. Everyone knew that Oklahoma City’s season was effectively on the line during this moment. 

The Thunder responded by orchestrating an 11-0 run across the next four minutes. Cason Wallace knocked down a pair of triples, Aaron Wiggins hit a shot from deep and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Alex Caruso both sank one free throw. Meanwhile, the Thunder’s elite defense absolutely clamped the Nuggets and forced a plethora of tough shots. 

Oklahoma City led 77-73 with 6:30 remaining after this stretch. Gilgeous-Alexander cemented the victory by scoring eight points over the following four minutes to keep Denver at arm’s reach. Overall, it was the Thunder’s biggest challenge of the 2025 playoffs until that point, and the team fought back to stay in the series. 

Oklahoma City once again struggled to score in Game 5, as Denver held a 90-81 lead with 10:11 left in the fourth quarter. Neither team scored a single point during the next two minutes. 

The Thunder’s offense looked abysmal and lacked a shred of confidence. But Luguentz Dort did not get frustrated or scared to shoot. He continued to launch three-pointers with his catapult form and knocked down three triples in a two minute span. Dort pulled the Thunder to within two points with 6:20 remaining in the fourth quarter, and Oklahoma City went on to win Game 5. 

It wasn’t the first time that Dort showed up when the Thunder needed him most. Who could forget him scoring 30 points as a rookie against the Rockets in Game 7 of the 2020 Western Conference First Round? Only Kobe Bryant and LeBron James had scored at least 25 points in a Game 7 while being 21 years old or younger before Dort’s explosion. 

The Thunder won Game 7 by 33 points largely due to Alex Caruso. Mark Daigneault had him defend Jokić despite the massive height and weight differences, and Caruso stepped up the challenge. 

He was extremely physical when fronting Jokić and consistently stripped the basketball when Jokić received passes. After 36 minutes of play, Jokić only had 20 points and committed five turnovers. Denver lost his minutes by 23 points. 

Overall, Daigneault unleashing Caruso as a secret weapon probably won Oklahoma City the series.