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The Oklahoma City Thunder won a critical Game 5 in Oklahoma City Tuesday night following another MVP-esque performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA finished with a team high 31 points on 12-for-23 shooting to accompany his six rebounds and seven assists. SGA facilitated a Thunder offense that did not shy away in the fourth quarter after heading into crunch time down eight. Lou Dort helped jumpstart the fourth quarter comeback after hitting three-straight triples to bring the Thunder within two with a little over eight minutes left in the game. The 112-105 victory for the Thunder was fueled by efficient three-point shooting by OKC in the fourth, as well as stout defense that nullified every Nuggets player except for three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
LU DORT IS ON FIRE
— NBA (@NBA) May 14, 2025
3-STRAIGHT TRIPLES TO BRING OKC WITHIN 2!
Approaching crunchtime in Game 5 on TNT pic.twitter.com/rpwuKaasRM
The Nuggets supporting cast has struggled in this series, and last night’s fourth quarter shooting performance might have put the nail in the coffin for Denver after Nikola Jokic was the only Nugget to score a basket besides a garbage time Jamal Murray layup with less than thirty seconds left. Below are the shooting numbers for the Nuggets in the fourth quarter.
- Aaron Gordon: 0/3
- Christian Braun: 0/1
- Jamal Murray: 1/6
- Michael Porter Jr. : 0/3
- Peyton Watson: 0/1
- Russell Westbrook: 0/1
- Nikola Jokic: 4/6, 1/2 from three
While the Nuggets supporters struggled, as they have all series, Nikola Jokic finally had a solid night shooting, finishing with 44 points on 17-for-25 shooting, while making five 3-pointers on seven attempts. Jokic also finished with 15 rebounds and five assists. Even though Jokic had another vintage playoff performance, the lack of help from the rest of the Nuggets squad is the glaring factor as to why Denver will not win another NBA Championship this season or this series. Michael Porter Jr has had a bad shoulder since the first round against the Clippers which could be a big factor as to why he has scored three points or less in three-out-of-the-five-games this series. Jamal Murray who had 28 points on 10-for-27 shooting, but only shot 3-for-13 from beyond the arc in Game 5 shows that the Nuggets do not have the offensive horses to hang with the 68 win Thunder.
JOKER WITH A CRAZY 3 FOR 44!
— NBA (@NBA) May 14, 2025
GET TO TNT FOR A WILD GAME 5 FINISH!!! pic.twitter.com/RT0Nmrir7m
Oklahoma City’s biggest weakness coming into this season's playoffs was their lack of experience. I think that argument can start to be put to rest as the Thunder have now come back in the fourth quarter in two-straight games to take a commanding 3-2 series lead back to Denver. While SGA had a brilliant 31 points, the Thunder supporting cast did more than pull their own weight as every starter scored in double figures as well as shooting a combined 44% from three, including a huge late triple from Jalen Williams to help ice the game late.
J-DUB AND SHAI CLUTCH 3s.
— NBA (@NBA) May 14, 2025
3-2 SERIES LEAD FOR OKC pic.twitter.com/OqLLiX62ar
If the Nuggets want to have any chance of forcing a Game 7 in OKC, Denver will need their squad to have the best shooting performance of the season on Thursday. I am worried that OKC will have too much momentum heading into Game 6 but the Nuggets do shoot much more efficiently in Ball Arena and you know Jokic should have his team ready to go. If Denver can string together stops while being able to match OKC’s three-point shooting the Nuggets could find themselves playing in their second Game 7 of this playoffs.
More must-reads:
- Celtics' moves suggest new guard will be traded — eventually
- Kevin Love reportedly has preferred buyout destination
- The 'NBA playoff point-per-game leaders' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Why Trae Young is reportedly 'disappointed' with the Hawks
Superstar point guard Trae Young has been the face of the Atlanta Hawks since the moment he arrived in a draft-day trade with the Dallas Mavericks in 2018. There have been some ups and downs throughout those seven years; however, you can't question whether Young's production has lived up to the billing of a top-five pick. The 26-year-old has averaged more than 24 points per game in every season but his rookie campaign (19.1 PPG) and has shown the ability to elevate his play in the clutch and biggest moments during the postseason. He is a premier point guard in today's NBA and has been all along, so when news of Spurs star point guard De'Aaron Fox inking a four-year max extension worth $229M came out, the focus turned to Young. Young is eligible for a four-year max extension himself, but according to ESPN's Marc Spears, he hasn't yet been offered a contract, and the face of the franchise is "disappointed." Young is right in the middle of his prime and coming off a season where he averaged 24.2 PPG and a career-high 11.6 APG, per ESPN stats. However, the Hawks lost in the play-in tournament each of the last two years and have not won a playoff series since their run to the Eastern Conference Finals back in 2020-21. Given that lack of success, there's been plenty of change to the roster and even the front office, with Landry Fields getting replaced by Onsi Saleh as general manager in April. The constant through it all has been Young, and the moves Atlanta made this summer felt like going all-in around its superstar. The acquisition of center Kristaps Porzingis and the signings of point guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker and shooting guard Luke Kennard to go with the core put the Hawks squarely in the mix to compete in a wide-open Eastern Conference. All of that makes it rather interesting to learn that they've yet to even approach their best player about an extension to remain a Hawk for the long term. Whether or not this report truly means anything about the Hawks' intentions with Young, there is no doubt teams around the NBA will be keeping a close eye on the situation.
Browns reporter says rookie is 'not an NFL QB'
As of the first Monday of August, there was no indication that 2025 third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel or 2025 fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders had any real chance to emerge as the Cleveland Browns' Week 1 starting quarterback. During a Monday morning appearance on Cleveland sports radio station 92.3 The Fan, Browns reporter Daryl Ruiter offered quite a worrisome update regarding how Gabriel has looked during training camp practices. "He's not good," Ruiter said about Gabriel. "He's not an NFL quarterback. Not right now, and the fact that they keep running him out there for first-team reps ... they're cramming this guy down our throats, and it's not good." Numerous NFL analysts viewed Gabriel as a third-day selection before the Browns made him the 94th overall pick of this year's draft. The perception, up until Sanders was held out of Saturday's practice due to arm soreness, was that he has been the team's fourth-choice option at the position behind Gabriel, Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco. All signs are reportedly pointing to Flacco getting the start for Cleveland's Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. Gabriel is listed at 5-foot-11, but some who cover the team have expressed doubts about that measurement. It seems that a lack of desirable size for playing the position in the pros isn't all that's gone against Gabriel this summer. "It's not a height thing," Ruiter continued. "It's not personal. He's rolling out and can't hit guys who are wide open. He's not all that great, at times, in the warmup periods. ... He's just not a good quarterback." Ruiter said that he feels Gabriel "has no business being in contention to start a football game" for the Browns this season. "It's god awful when he's on the field," Ruiter added. Browns general manager Andrew Berry revealed in late July that he could stash all four active quarterbacks on the roster for at least Week 1. For an article published on Sunday night, Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand wrote that there's "zero chance" either Gabriel or Sanders will be cut this summer. Perhaps Gabriel will look better when he sees some action in Cleveland's preseason opener at the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8. That said, it sounds like fans should keep their expectations low for Gabriel's unofficial debut this coming Friday.
Calls Mount for Aaron Boone to Be Fired After Fifth Straight Yankees Loss
The New York Yankees continue to play like one of the worst teams in Major League Baseball. Despite their American League, MVP candidate, Aaron Judge, being reinstated from the injured list on Tuesday, the Yankees struggled mightily -- again. The Yankees took on the Texas rangers in the second game of a three-game-series, on the road. Judge was slotted into the No. 3 slot in the batting order, as the designated hitter, and Will Warren took the mound against the Rangers, Nathan Eovaldi. Warren was solid, giving up just three hits and issuing three walks while striking out five batters in five innings pitched. Trade deadline acquisition, Camilo Doval, and Luke Weaver held down the bullpen, keeping this game scoreless as it headed into the eighth inning. Then, Yankees manager, Aaron Boone, did the inexplicable. He brought struggling reliever, Devin Williams, into a 0-0 game, despite blowing two consecutive saves and giving up earned runs in three consecutive appearances. In the least surprising outcome ever, Williams loaded the bases before giving up a two-run single to Rowdy Tellez. The Yankees freefall continues, as they have an 18-29 record since June 12. The only team in the AL with a worse record over that timeframe is the Minnesota Twins (16-29). With the frustration seemingly at an All-Time high amongst Yankees fans, they've descended upon social media, and calls are mounting for Boone to be fired. Within minutes of the 2-0 Rangers win over the Yankees going final on Tuesday night, "Aaron Boone" and "Devin Williams" were both trending on X. And "#FireBoone" was popping up everywhere. The Yankees got just two hits on Tuesday and have scored just eight runs over their past four games. To make matters worse, recent trade deadline acquisition, reliever, Jake Bird, was sent down to the Minors prior to Tuesday's game. The Yankees traded away two prospects in exchange for Bird. Time will tell if the Yankees front office will make a change at manager by firing Boone, but it is apparent that Yankees fans overwhelmingly want to see that transpire. The Yankees next game comes on Wednesday afternoon, against the Rangers, when Carlos Rodon will take the mound against Jack Leiter. First pitch is scheduled for 2:35 p.m. EDT.
Athletics catcher's historic performance part of team's 16-run onslaught against Nationals
The Athletics have not had much to smile about in 2025, but Tuesday night was a totally different story. The Washington Nationals, who had lost five straight coming into the game, had no answer for the offensive onslaught as the Athletics won handily, 16-7. Led by the trio of catcher Shea Langeliers, right fielder Brent Rooker and center fielder JJ Bleday, the Athletics combined for 16 runs, 24 hits and never looked back after a five-run first inning. Langeliers became the first Athletics catcher with a five-hit game since 1972, three of which were for home runs. He got the scoring started for the Athletics in the first inning with this 402-foot shot to center field off Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore. Langeliers' second homer of the night came in the fifth when he hit a 387-footer to left off reliever Orlando Ribalta to give the Athletics a 10-1 lead. He capped his second career three-homer game with a 419-foot home run to center off a 94 mph four-seam fastball from Andry Lara to give the Athletics the 11-3 advantage in the seventh. He joins Travis d'Arnaud, Gary Carter and Johnny Bench as the only catchers with multiple three-home run games, per MLB.com's Sarah Langs. Langeliers is the first player since at least 1900 to have three homers in his first career game starting at leadoff (h/t Elias Sports). This double in the eighth secured the five-hit game for Langeliers. Per Langs (h/t Elias Sports), his 15 total bases are tied for the most by a catcher in a game since at least 1900 with Wes Westrum (1950) and Walker Cooper (1949). According to MLB Stats, Langeliers joins Cal Raleigh, Mike Piazza, Earl Williams and Rudy York as the only catchers to hit 20 or more home runs in three of their first four MLB seasons with a minimum of 50 percent of their games at catcher. The Athletics (50-65) are still last in the AL West and have struggled to find any consistency all season. Despite the struggles, Tuesday night was a needed distraction from that on a historic night at the plate from Langeliers.
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