In a potentially series-deciding Game 5 between the Thunder and Nuggets, the Oklahoma City saw a late surge fueled by two-play play, securing its biggest win of the postseason.
The teams battled back-and-forth for a majority of the contest, before OKC surged with three-straight Luguentz Dort threes, and some improved play from MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The series was tied 2-2 coming into Tuesday’s bout, with all four games having fireworks in some capacity. Denver stole Game 1 with late-game heroics, OKC course-corrected to win by 43, then the Nuggets won an overtime bout, and folded late in Game 4 on their home turf. Now, the teams head back to Denver with OKC leading, 3-2.
Here's how X, formerly known as Twitter, reacted to Game 5:
Our 5️⃣⚡️ pic.twitter.com/ezaeou4pzN
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) May 14, 2025
Starting #MileHighPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/JOJ0RaeLKM
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) May 14, 2025
OKC crowd is BOOMING early.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) May 14, 2025
Crazy loud in here.
CHET OPENING THE GAME WITH A THREE
— (@Three_Cone) May 14, 2025
Elite defense by Lu.
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 14, 2025
Isaiah Hartenstein two handed slam gives OKC an early double digit lead.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) May 14, 2025
Loud City is on one tonight.
Thunder up 12-2.
Timeout OKC as the Nuggets go on a burst to make this a 1 point game. 14-13 now. Jokic has been the aggressor tonight, which is what he has missed the last few games IMO
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 14, 2025
Man I miss playing in that Arena! Oklahoma has some of the best fans in sports. I can feel the energy through the TV! My God
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) May 14, 2025
19-4 run, Denver.
— Nick Crain (@CrainNBA) May 14, 2025
OKC’s ineffectiveness in the non-Jokic minutes might kill them.
— Bobby Howard (@BobbyHowardOK) May 14, 2025
Denver playing really well right now. They’re going to make some mistakes, but staying ahead of the OKC runs and shutting off the water as much as possible with SGA has been impressive.
— Ryan Blackburn (@NBABlackburn) May 14, 2025
Good minutes from Strawther. I don’t care if he’s not shooting. Another body really helps.
Cason Wallace just simply makes stuff happen on both ends.
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 14, 2025
I would say Shai has gotta just operate faster and get directly into his moves to score.
— Michael Martin (@MichaelOnSports) May 14, 2025
Denver is dog piling him with help.
Either quickly into a shot or gotta kick it out. That last shot under the rim with 3 defenders around him is an almost impossible situation.
Again, a unit with Caruso-Wiggins-Wallace wills OKC back into it,
— Derek Parker (@DParkOK) May 14, 2025
Nuggets lead from seven to two quickly.
Holmgren to Hartenstein big to big alley oop slam.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) May 14, 2025
Tie game. 59-59.
That block by Hartenstein on Gordon has woken this crowd up
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) May 14, 2025
Hartenstein with the block of his season. That means a lot if you watched him against Dalton Knecht.
— Joel Lorenzi (@JoelXLorenzi) May 14, 2025
Jamal Murray has hit some tough shots, but OKC’s defense also just hasn’t been good enough for most of the game.
— Jesse Crittenden (@JesseCrittenden) May 14, 2025
Feels a lot like the third quarter from game 4, with Denver red hot from deep.
— THE UNCONTESTED PODCAST (@The_Uncontested) May 14, 2025
Just like game 4, OKC gonna have to find some life to stay in this one. pic.twitter.com/R0L2ZK2Twp
Thunder are dodging bullets right now.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) May 14, 2025
That is just an unreal rebound by Watson. It doesn't lead to anything for DEN (shot clock violation) but embodies this game for OKC.
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 14, 2025
Jokić and Murray combine for 25 of Denver's 30 third quarter points
— NBA (@NBA) May 14, 2025
Jokić: 12 points (31 in Game)
Murray: 13 points (24 in Game)
Nuggets seek a 3-2 lead on the road tonight on TNT! pic.twitter.com/LDwzeKlKyR
A monumental 3 from Lu Dort. Not a lot of scoring so far this quarter.
— Joel Lorenzi (@JoelXLorenzi) May 14, 2025
Lu Dort.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) May 14, 2025
Believe.
LU DORT OH MY GOD
— Evan Elliott (@ElliottEvan24) May 14, 2025
Lu Dort. Never a Doubt.
— Ben Creider (@BenCreider) May 14, 2025
I can’t believe Lu Dort just saved the thunders szn lol
— Jack Settleman (@jacksettleman) May 14, 2025
Lu Dort has turned this game around ... for now pic.twitter.com/YX8oHpMsvm
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) May 14, 2025
The only OKC players with multiple 20/5/5/2/2 games in the playoffs: pic.twitter.com/ppCkT1VLoz
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 14, 2025
What a step through by Jalen Williams to get the foul. and a chance to tie the game at the line. This is another game where the box score says what it says but the processing from him has been so much better than a year ago. He has shown growth this postseason.
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 14, 2025
The value of hitting on high 2nd round picks: Jaylin Williams in this series.
— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) May 14, 2025
What is Denver doing?
— Josh Eberley (@JoshEberley) May 14, 2025
yeah. Denver has no gas left in the tank.....Jokic willing right now
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) May 14, 2025
Completely insane fadeaway three from Joker there to tie this game up,
— Derek Parker (@DParkOK) May 14, 2025
hooooly what a shot. Chet all over him.
THE MVPS ARE BATTLING FOLKS
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) May 14, 2025
JOKIC WHAT IN THE WORLD
Nikola Jokic is unbelievable. Lol
— Addam M. Francisco (@SuaveCEO_) May 14, 2025
JOKIC UNREAL
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) May 14, 2025
JOKER WHAT A SHOT!!!! pic.twitter.com/SRcEGi6gHW
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 14, 2025
MVP MVP MVP MVP MVP pic.twitter.com/inLSBcF1Jv
— Joshua (@JoshMurdoc) May 14, 2025
Loud City shattering the decibel meter right now.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) May 14, 2025
Thunder survived a real Nikola Jokic game
— The Daniel Bell© (@BasketballGuruD) May 14, 2025
Thunder lead the series 3-2, with a chance to finish it off Thursday and reach the West Finals.
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) May 14, 2025
Lu Dort deserves the game ball. What a critical stretch. Shai came through when it mattered. It took a lot of grit to withstand THOSE Jokic shots, which can always be deflating.
LOUD CITY ️️️
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) May 14, 2025
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