2025 NBA PLAYOFFS West Semifinals: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Denver Nuggets (Series tied 2-2)

[Mavrelous]

The +/- doesn't lie, Aaron Wiggins and Westbrook were the game changers, each to an opposite direction.
The game was won on depth, Caruso, Wallace and Wiggins were great off the bench.

[Revived]

Jokic is the reason for this loss. Guy missed FTs, missed shots, terrible defense.

Do people actually believe this or is this like a running gag going on here? Got two guys shooting 3 for 19 on wide open shots created by all the attention Jokic draws, a team that melt down the second Jokic sat, and he’s the one to blame? These posts are so weird lol

You realize Jokic shot 7-22 right? We’re comparing him to All Time legends because he is one so he’s gonna be held to that same expectation. If 30 yr old LeBron shot 7-22 in a playoff game then he would be getting rightful criticism for it too.

Yeah the rest for his teammates shot like crap too but he’s the superstar and he still needs to be more efficient and do better. It’s one thing to have one-off game but it’s now two games in a row for him.

And no it’s not a “running gag” and I’m not a Jokic hater either. You can see my post below from few days ago for further proof. Guy’s probably my second most favorite player in the league. But at the time, I don’t have rose-colored glasses either and I’m always gonna call a spade a spade. I’m sure Jokic himself would say he played like complete trash and would blame himself for the loss even more than his terrible shooting teammates.

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[okboomer]

Tough win by the Thunder, Shai is not good enough though through this series.

[AmIWrongDude]

Jokic has really turned into a premier flopper in the league but it rarely gets talked about

[Jeremy Lin 7]

Denver playing with 4.5 NBA players (MPJ injured) and the series is tied 2-2

It's going to be a miracle if they win this series

Plz, every team is dealing with injuries this time of year. There's no excuses. Not all of OKC's injuries are advertised.

Pointing out Denver's lack of depth, not making an injury excuse. They have no one reliable on the bench, while OKC has Wiggins, Caruso, Wallace to win them the game essentially.

Calvin Booth should be banned from the NBA for GM malpractice

[Wargreymon]

Shai gives a shout out to everyone’s mom in the world. Dudes married.

Its mother’s day. I don’t think he’s cheating on her

[10DayContract]

No one is a choker or fake star. This ish is hard you guys lol. Best player on the team gets the most defensive attention and you have to adjust to the adjustments in real time. It's mentally and physically exhausting and even the greatest players can struggle.

I wish fans would view the game as a team sport rather than so much focus on individuals and which guy is better than the other guy.

Seriously.

Do you guys think this isn't hard af??? lol. These are human beings that are exhausted. The defense being played in the playoffs this year has been incredible. It's a battle nonstop.

[KingFox]

I wonder if everyone will hold Jokic's feet to the fire the way they do Embiid and so many others. OKC has been clamping him the hell up out there

[HotRocks34]

Top NBA Efficiency numbers from G4

Jokic........27
Gordon.....27
SGA..........22

[sunsbg]

Both teams were bad it's just OKC managed to prevent embarrassment from losing to a team that scored 8 points in a quarter.

[uncleduck13]

Nuggets can steal game 5 and end this in 6. It’s that simple

Nuggets like the Knicks in the fact they can’t keep winning in miraculous come from behind fashion. They need to prove they can beat this team in a convincing fashion. Like how OKC beat them in game 2. Like how Boston been beating the breaks off NY for most of that series.

Nuggets haven’t showcased this ability. And with Jokic playing the way he has it’s almost certain they won’t be advancing. Maybe their ‘win’ is simply making this series competitive at all.

[KingFox]

This series so far shows why LBJ is arguably the goat. Even though scoring is not his first and foremost strength, he always showed up in series like this. Modern and latest MVP candidates look like they are not in the same tier with guys like LBJ and MJ. Both Joker and SGA looks horrific. So next time while bashing LBJ, remember this series.

2011 NBA Finals

2007 Finals too

He was literally just awful against the Wolves a couple weeks ago. Everyone has bad games

[OldSchoolNoBull]

The Nuggets absolutely blew this game. All those missed FTs and shots around the basket. Now they gave HCA back and they have to win in OKC again to take the series.

[AmIWrongDude]

Jokic is the reason for this loss. Guy missed FTs, missed shots, terrible defense.

Do people actually believe this or is this like a running gag going on here? Got two guys shooting 3 for 19 on wide open shots created by all the attention Jokic draws, a team that melt down the second Jokic sat, and he’s the one to blame? These posts are so weird lol

You realize Jokic shot 7-22 right? We’re comparing him to All Time legends because he is one so he’s gonna be held to that same expectation. If 30 yr old LeBron shot 7-22 in a playoff game then he would be getting rightful criticism for it too.

Yeah the rest for his teammates shot like crap too but he’s the superstar and he still needs to be more efficient and do better. It’s one thing to have one-off game but it’s now two games in a row for him.

And no it’s not a “running gag” and I’m not a Jokic hater either. You can see my post below from few days ago for further proof. Guy’s probably my second most favorite player in the league. But at the time, I don’t have rose-colored glasses either and I’m always gonna call a spade a spade. I’m sure Jokic himself would say he played like complete trash and would blame himself for the loss even more than his terrible shooting teammates.

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He’s been BAD 3 games in a row. It’s not crazy to expect him to play well in more than 1/4 games.

[___Rand___]

Both teams were exhausted by the end. Great job by the NBA having them play late Friday then early today, especially considering the last game went to OT.

That's a great point. I still haven't recovered from that OT. lol.

[GeorgeSears]

Well done OKC. Odd, ugly game to watch, but a win is a win. Hopefully Denver pulls a surprise in game 5

Very low chance of that happening. Game 5 is probably a blowout because the Nuggets have nothing left, they're done.

[BelgradeNugget]

GG okc
This was Nuggets 11th game in 23 days in the playoffs. Starters are playing 40+ minutes, it will be hard to have any energy left.
Nuggets won multiple games they should have lost in these playoffs, this is the first one they let slip away

[Tomhomes33]

Lesson tonight for Adelman. Sometimes you just have to keep a guy in.

The real fault lies with Booth and Malone though. Booth got no real backup center and Malone never played guys like Jay Huff who could have helped with that issue.

Cant blame Adelman IMO..Jokic was gassed..so are the other starters..MPJ plays injured..Russ is being Russ..and you dint have anybody else on the bench. I know Saric is bad , but should throw him in for 3-5min instead of Watson just to see id he can produce anything..he can shot 3..he can rebound..he has no D I know but still..

[KingFox]

Shai smiling at the end of game 3 will go down as an iconic moment. Thunder back in the drivers seat.

Yeah cause he played a world beater of a game tonight. Game was won for OKC when he was on the bench lol

They still don't win this game without SGA

[levon]

You have to think OKC has another good shooting game from 3 again, and there's gotta be a Shai game coming right? I'm not counting Denver out though. Thunder look super fallible.