The Oklahoma City Thunder pulled away from turning his back against the wall in the 2025 NBA playoffs.
Closer to a must-see mentality, the OKC Thunder managed to make it against the Denver Nuggets in Game 4, securing a 92-87 Game 4 victory.
After receiving the FLAK, MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came with OKC with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in 38 minutes.
Gilgeous-Alexander was effective at reaching the free throw line, going 9-12, raising the eyebrows of Nuggets interim coach David Adelman.
Shy Gilgauss Alexander was once again the driving force behind them, but OKC would not have won this important Game 4 victory without their supporting cast.
As Jalen Williams struggled to step up as second in the team, Oklahoma City’s trustworthy role player picked up Slack to help SGA and Thunder The Sthunder tie the seven-game matchup together.
Specifically, the main help arrived from OKC’s Topnotch bench. Alex Caruso stayed as the X-factor for the team with 10 markers, impressing fans with his two-way play.
So both Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins dropped 11 points each, combining six huge triples from nine attempts.
The data shows how both teams struggled aggressively, employing a total of 21 out of 86 three-point shootings.
OKC was able to get to the top thanks to the bench praised by Stephen A. Smith.
“When it counted, (Gilgeous-Alexander) confirmed he was felt, so I think he’s an imminent MVP,” ESPN analysts began with the NBA countdown.
“But let’s also give credit to the benches of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Caruso, Wiggins and Wallace.
“You have to look at that level of contribution. Neither team was a good shooter game. Both teams shot 24.4% from the 3-point range.
“But in the end, as the SGA stressed, we were wearing hats in our defense. We knew defensively what we could do against them. That’s what they did and they got help from their benches.
Smith added: “OKC hit 10 3-pointers for the game. On the bench, the three guys I mentioned smacked 8.”
It was certainly an incredible team effort from Oklahoma City. And when it was most important, they helped very much to avoid potential 3-1 holes.
As it is currently a three-series, the Thunder will ultimately defeat the Nuggets, continue to rely on secondary productions to continue to carry on their historic 68-win campaign as they move on to the next round.
Kendrick Perkins, who was in awe of this game 4 on Wallace’s “Pitbull” display, offered praise to OKC’s bench mob.
“The bench won the game against them today, right? Alex Caruso achieved it on both ends of the floor in his championship experience.
“Denver was running back to the game. He defended Jamal Murray at a high level, especially with the actions of the two. And then suddenly, we see the SGA bring it home,” Perkins said.
“Sometimes you just have to win, they’re not always pretty. They have to win ugly, they have to win on trench, that’s what OKC did tonight.”
Game 5 between the Thunder and the Nuggets is scheduled for May 13th.