KEYPOINTS SUMMARY
- Nuggets and Jokic lose Game 4 to Thunder 92-87
- Series now tied 2-2 after OKCโs late comeback
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 25 to lead Thunder
- Jokic puts up 27 points, 13 rebounds but canโt close it
- Both teams shoot horribly in sluggish, record-low first quarter
- Game 5 will be back in Oklahoma City, where Thunder dominated Game 2
- Denverโs title hopes shaken as OKC takes back momentum
Nuggets and Jokic Lose Game 4 in Stunning CollapseโSeries Tied
Itโs the kind of loss that hurts more than the scoreboard shows.
In a game that was supposed to put Denver in control of the series, the Nuggets and Nikola Jokic fell apart late, losing 92-87 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
After leading by eight in the fourth quarter, the Nuggets watched it all unravel.
Now the series is tied 2-2, and the defending champs are staring down a storm of doubt.
โWe had itโฆ and we let it slip,โ one Denver fan said. โThis one will haunt us.โ
Game 4 Started UglyโAnd Never Got Pretty
Letโs be honest: this game was painful to watch at times.
The opening quarter saw both teams combine for just 25 points, tying the NBA playoff record for fewest points in a first quarter in the shot clock era.
Yes, you read that right.
- Denver: 8 points
- OKC: 17 points
- Total: A brutal 8-for-44 from the field combined
- From three-point range? Denver was 0-for-14. OKC went 1-for-11
It looked more like a Sunday morning pickup game at the rec center than a high-stakes playoff matchup.
Jokic Puts Up NumbersโBut Comes Up Empty
Nikola Jokic did his partโor tried to.
He scored:
- 27 points
- Grabbed 13 rebounds
- Carried the Nuggets during their brief third-quarter surge
But in the fourth quarter, with the game on the line, Jokic and his teammates missed eight straight shots.
The result? An 11-0 Thunder run that flipped the script and silenced Denverโs crowd.
Thunder RiseโShai Leads Another Comeback
While Denver stumbled, the Thunder found their spark.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points and once again played with poise, aggression, and leadership beyond his years.
He got help from surprising places:
- Cason Wallace: 11 points and two huge threes in the fourth
- Aaron Wiggins: Another 11 points and a clutch three
- Jalen Williams and Alex Caruso each chipped in 10
And letโs not forget: this team is youngest in the NBA.
Now? Theyโre two wins away from the Conference Finals.
Nuggets Blew Their ShotโLiterally
Denver had the perfect chance.
They had:
- A home crowd
- A tired Thunder squad coming off a late Game 3
- An eight-point lead early in the fourth
But what did they do?
- Missed eight straight shots
- Got outscored 14-3 in the clutch
- Let a 2-0 series lead slip through their fingers
It wasnโt just a loss. It was a missed opportunity with championship consequences.
Michael Porter Jr. Disappears Again
Another huge red flag for Denver: Michael Porter Jr..
After scoring 15 in Game 3, he delivered:
- Just 3 points in Game 4
- Missed open looks
- Struggled on defense
- Vanished when Denver needed him most
Itโs become a disturbing trend in this series.
And if Porter doesnโt bounce back soon, Denverโs playoff run might not last much longer.
Jamal Murray & Gordon Try to Step Upโbut Fall Short
Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon tried to help Jokic carry the load:
- Murray: 17 points
- Gordon: 15 points and 16 rebounds
But neither could get going when it counted.
In the final six minutes? They were silent.
The offense broke down. The plays got sloppy. And OKCโs defense clamped down like a vise.
โWe didnโt execute,โ Murray said. โThatโs on us.โ
Worst Shooting Playoff Game in 21 Years
Hereโs a stat no team wants to be part of:
The combined shooting percentage of 33.5% in this game was the lowest in a playoff game since 2003.
Neither team could find the bucket. The ball clanged, airballed, and bricked all night.
But the difference?
The Thunder hit shots when it mattered. The Nuggets didnโt.
Whatโs Next: Game 5 Could Decide It All
Game 5 Details:
- Location: Oklahoma City
- Date: Tuesday night
- Tip-off: 8:30 PM ET
The Thunder crushed Denver by 43 the last time they were home.
Now, with the series tied 2-2, the pressure is on.
If OKC wins again? They go up 3-2 with a chance to close out the champs.
โThis next game is everything,โ said one analyst. โIf Denver loses, itโs over.โ
Fans React: Disbelief and Heartbreak
The Nuggets faithful had high hopes after Game 3.
Now?
- โHow do you blow that lead?โ
- โThis isnโt championship basketball.โ
- โJokic deserves better.โ
- โMPJ has to wake up.โ
- โWe miss Bruce Brown!โ
Meanwhile, Thunder fans are buzzing. A team no one expected to go deep is now two wins from history.
Nuggets and Jokic Lose the Game That Mattered Most
The truth is simple:
Nuggets and Jokic lost the one they couldnโt afford to lose.
This was the game where experience was supposed to matter.
Where Denverโs championship DNA was supposed to rise.
Where Jokic was supposed to take control.
Instead, it was Shai.
It was the Thunder.
And it was a loss that could end Denverโs season.
Now itโs do or die in Game 5.
And if the Nuggets donโt show up?
The champions will be going home early.
