The Oklahoma City Thunder had the best defense in the NBA this season, but if the game was too late, the Thunder constantly chose not to trust him. Under chief coach Mark Daigneault, OKC likes the foul when he goes up three, refusing to produce a game attempt to his opponent while betting on his free kick to take them through the finish line.
The Thunder was again found in a situation in which three failed in the last seconds in game 1 against the denver nuggets in the second round of the NBA playoffs of 2025. This time, it failed and results in a surprising collapse to let Denver steal the first game of the series.
The Thunder climbed three with 11 remaining seconds when Shai Gilgous-Alexander ran to the basket for an easy overturned of a side line outside the game of limits. The Nuggets had tasks that Nikola Jokic came out of the game for that defensive possession, and the rapid gilgeous-school cube should mean that Jokic remained on the sidelines as the game continued.
Instead, thunder committed an immediate lack, with Alex Caruso wrapping Aaron Gordon. Gordon took a step to the line and made two free throws to turn it into a game of a point. In the middle, Jokic went back into the game.
The Pepitas committed an immediate lack in the entrants, sending Chet Holmgren to the line. The young man of Thunder is a free kick of 78 percent, but choked in the biggest place in his life. Holmgren lost his two free throws, the Nuggets grabbed the rebound, and then Aaron Gordon delivered his second iconic shot of this postseason:
The Nuggets defeated The Thunder, 121-119, to steal game 1 in the best confrontation of 7 in the semifinals of the West Conference. The Nuggets deserve all the credit for their incredible brave return, but it was only possible thanks to the silly intentional dirty of OKC.
Thunder must have at least Denver drain for a while outside the clock advancing to the ball is adjusted to half. Daigneeault could also have trusted his defense to prevent a good look of three, as special with Jokic waiting on the lateral line trying his deputy director.
After the game, Daigneault Toke the fault of the delayed strategy.
Mark Daigneault takes the blame for Thunder’s intentional faults:
“Installing three, that is about me. The lack of executed is critical. If there is something to learn from that it is likely to also say the fault … that is not in the players. They are executing what I tell them to do” pic.twitter.com/1xfvgmvzth
– Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) May 6, 2025
This was an incredible playoff game between a former champion looking for another opportunity in Glory and a young man and power supply that tries to Pro -Time is now. For Nuggets to achieve a victory like this after supporting a brutal victory in the seven games against the clippers that ended only two nights before, it is an incredible hardness exhibition. Oklahoma City has a great rest of rest in this series, and they are only the best team after publishing 68 victories and one of the best net qualifications in history. Somehow, Denver dug deeply to get one.
Gordon’s winner was only possible due to a virtuous performance by Nikola Jokic. Jokic finished with 42 points, 22 rebounds and six assists in 15 of 29 shots from the floor. Jokic’s triple ice cream, with almost a remaining minute to be a game of a point, stands out as an exhibition of its greatness.
The Nuggets followed 11 points with 4:30 remaining. It was then that Denver began to walk through the powerful thunder, using intelligent bail quality techniques to enter the bonus and convert clutch free throws. Jokic painted a masterpiece, Gordon delivered a shot for the ages, but the whole team took a step forward to make this victory possible.
The Thunder have to kick themselves for letting a safe victory fall into their hands. His decision to heat three seemed shocking in real time, and the sausage case stage develops:
It is important to notice again the lack of trial is not and it has never been shown to be the correct, statistically or other movement, and is completely for busters.
– Beng (@kicknyrgios) May 6, 2025
The strategy of the lack of three is good … OKC did it very early
– Marcus Thompson II (@thompscript) May 6, 2025
Inform three stinks and must be prohibited
– Charlie Cummings (@klaytheist11) May 6, 2025
That is what you get to get three, cowards
– Tony tab (@ony_pesta) May 6, 2025
Thunder’s strategy could have worked if Holmgren has just made his free throws. He also stopped the clock, Cool Denver two more possessions, and helped them achieve an exciting return of AA that showed his championship heart. We will see if OKC changes your approach in case they are in the same situation again these playoffs.
