I. A Masterclass from Jokic – More Than Just Numbers
The second round of the NBA playoffs kicked off with the defending champion Denver Nuggets edging out the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder 101-99 in a nail-biter. The game showcased the stark contrast between playoff experience and regular season dominance.
Stat Line: 42 pts, 22 rebs, 6 ast – but it’s the how that matters.
- Reading the Floor Like a QB: Jokic operated as the offensive axis. Not only did he abuse single coverage in the post with soft floaters and spinning hooks, but he diagnosed OKC’s rotations mid-play, especially when they tried late doubles. He passed out of traps before they could form and punished switches with surgical precision.
- Isolation Murder: At one point in the 4th, Denver spaced the floor and let Jokic go 1-on-5. It worked. Holmgren couldn’t contain the bulk; OKC’s wings were too small; help came late or not at all. Jokic played chess while the Thunder played catch-up.
- Tempo Control: Jokic slowed the game down and made OKC grind. This dragged them into half-court situations where their youth showed. Denver’s ability to weaponize pace as a defensive tool is understated.
II. The Aaron Gordon Effect – The Real Matchup Nightmare
- AG’s role in this series is massive—not just as a slasher or rebounder, but as a defensive anchor and emotional bellwether.
- 7 offensive rebounds didn’t just give Denver second chances—they demoralized OKC. Gordon’s tip-outs and put-backs disrupted OKC’s rhythm and fed into Denver’s playoff physicality.
- On defense, he flexed onto Shai for stretches, helping contain the Thunder star down the stretch, then turned around and hit the biggest shot of the game, a corner three that snapped OKC’s spirit.
III. OKC’s Cracks Under Pressure
1. Clutch Game Inexperience
- As noted, OKC only played 8 clutch games all year. Game 1 was a crash course in what happens when a team is uncomfortable late. Contrast that with Denver’s 23 clutch games, and you saw the difference:
- Denver executed calmly.
- OKC sped up, lost composure, and leaned on hero-ball.
2. SGA as a Solo Act
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was brilliant early but faded under the weight of ball-stopping isolation when Denver ramped up the pressure.
- No real second scoring threat emerged. Jalen Williams went 5-for-20, and OKC had no offensive continuity in the final 4 minutes.
- Their last good look came with 4:38 left. They had momentum, but froze.
3. Decision-Making Breakdown
- Intentional fouling with too much time left (on Aaron Gordon) felt panicked.
- Holmgren, already struggling physically against Jokic, missed two clutch free throws—and took too long between them, breaking rhythm.
- No timeout after Gordon’s go-ahead 3: rookie mistake. OKC didn’t get a clean final look.
IV. Coaching Chess: Adelman Outduels Daigneault
- Nuggets assistant David Adelman, subbing for Michael Malone, made two crucial decisions:
- Kept Jokic in vs. OKC’s small-ball lineups, forcing Daigneault to adjust rather than dictate.
- Trusted Christian Braun in crunch time to run a two-man game with Gordon—a trust Daigneault never gave to anyone but SGA.
- Daigneault, brilliant all season, hesitated to stagger lineups or ride the hot hand. His reluctance to pull J-Dub when cold and overtrust in foul games late hurt OKC.
V. Bigger Implications for the Series
For Denver:
- If Jokic remains this dominant and AG keeps swallowing offensive boards, OKC may need to rethink small-ball lineups.
- The Murray injury gives OKC a theoretical edge in perimeter scoring, but Denver’s chemistry bridges that gap.
- Denver didn’t even play their A-game. Yet they owned the moment.
For OKC:
- The loss is psychological. The team looked stunned, not just defeated.
- OKC must rediscover offensive balance. Either J-Dub bounces back, or Giddey steps into a real secondary creator role.
- Daigneault needs to throw curveballs—zone defense, more minutes for Isaiah Joe, something that disrupts Denver’s rhythm.
Bottom Line:
This wasn’t a battle of talent—it was a test of emotional intelligence. And Denver, scarred but seasoned, knew exactly how to win an ugly one. If OKC wants to reverse the script, they’ll need to mature quickly—because this is not the regular season anymore.
Leave a Reply