The Denver Nuggets find themselves trailing 2-1 in their playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, despite some unsettling statistics highlighting their struggles so far. The Thunder have outscored the Nuggets by a point differential of 32 after three games, and the Nuggets faced a deficit in numerous statistical categories, including turnovers and points in the paint. The Nuggets’ average of just 20.3 assists per game is a stark contrast to their impressive regular-season average.
Nevertheless, Denver has managed to secure two victories in tight games—a testament to their playoff experience and resilience. Nuggets interim coach David Adelman noted the importance of situational experience in playoffs, pointing to his team’s ability to thrive in clutch moments, supported by their history of successful late-game performances. Such experience has seemingly played a role, contributing to their seventh overtime victory this year, despite acknowledging that the Thunder, particularly their stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, will continue to improve as they gain more experience in high-pressure situations.
The Thunder, who broke the NBA record for point differential during the regular season, have exhibited their potential. However, they also faced challenges against Denver, especially with their star players struggling to find rhythm in tight games. As the series progresses, both teams will need to adapt to each other’s play styles and capitalize on opportunities.
The resilience shown by both teams highlights the competitive nature of this playoff series. With Game 4 approaching, Nuggets fans remain hopeful that their team’s experience will provide the edge needed to reclaim a series momentum and potentially even the score. This series showcases not only the grit of seasoned players but also the promise of younger talents like Gilgeous-Alexander, setting the stage for an electrifying continuation of the playoffs.