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The Thunder’s Big Three came through.
Alex Caruso, Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace, that is.
Give each of them a game ball, because without the opportunistic play of the three benchmen, this is a 3-to-1, all-but-over series. Instead, it’s a 2-2 split heading back to Oklahoma City after the Thunder took Game 4 92-87 on Sunday afternoon in Denver.
In the five-point win, Wiggins was a team-best plus-14 in his 16 minutes. Caruso and Wallace, who played 28 and 23 minutes respectively, were both a plus-12. Those were the three best plus-minus marks for the Thunder. Single game plus/minuses can be deceptive, but nothing about those numbers was a fluke.
After an overtime period in Game 3 and a quick turnaround ahead of Game 4, “we made a very intentional effort to use our depth today and get everybody going,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.
CARLSON: Nikola Jokic was off again in Game 4. This time, OKC Thunder didn't squander opportunity.
OKC’s biggest advantage over Denver is its depth. On Sunday, the Thunder’s bench outscored the Nuggets’ bench 35-8.
In a game where 3-pointers were so precious, Caruso, Wiggins and Wallace accounted for eight of the Thunder’s 10 long-range makes. Combined, they shot 8-of-14 (57%) from three.
The rest of their teammates were 2-of-27 (7%).
The triples from that bench trio were timely, too.
Caruso’s 3-pointers (he was 2-of-5) came earlier in the game, but he was as clutch as could be in the fourth quarter. Doing classic Caruso things, like punching the ball out of Nikola Jokic’s hands for a Thunder rebound and junking up Denver’s offense by applying relentless pressure.
“They were huge,” Daigneault said of his bench. “They made huge shots and they gave us huge defense and toughness plays in that stretch of the game. Big, big time.”
5 TAKEAWAYS: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder are clutch to tie series vs Nuggets
Caruso played all but seven seconds of the fourth quarter. Daigneault rode Caruso down the stretch in place of starter Lu Dort, who wasn’t used at all in the fourth quarter.
Caruso didn’t make a shot in the fourth quarter, but he was instrumental in the Thunder outscoring the Nuggets 29-18 in the final frame.
The story of Sunday was the Thunder overcoming its clutch-time terrors. But OKC would not have made it to clutch time if not for the timely baskets and tenacious defense of Caruso, Wiggins and Wallace in the critical moments to close the third quarter and open the fourth.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander brought the game home with nine points in the fourth and a team-high 25 overall, but he didn’t get much offensive help from his main sidekicks.
Jalen Williams played excellent defense but had to beg for a bucket. Same goes for Chet Holmgren. Combined, J-Dub and Chet shot 6-of-23, including 0-of-8 from 3-point range.
The Thunder had to rely on a different Big Three in Game 4. And because of them, the series is headed to Game 5 all knotted up.
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at [email protected]. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
More: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can smile after Thunder's OT loss to Nuggets: 'Series is not over'
Best-of-seven; Games 5-7 if necessary.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder roster shows off depth to beat Denver Nuggets in Game 4
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Alex Caruso, Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace, that is.
Give each of them a game ball, because without the opportunistic play of the three benchmen, this is a 3-to-1, all-but-over series. Instead, it’s a 2-2 split heading back to Oklahoma City after the Thunder took Game 4 92-87 on Sunday afternoon in Denver.
In the five-point win, Wiggins was a team-best plus-14 in his 16 minutes. Caruso and Wallace, who played 28 and 23 minutes respectively, were both a plus-12. Those were the three best plus-minus marks for the Thunder. Single game plus/minuses can be deceptive, but nothing about those numbers was a fluke.
After an overtime period in Game 3 and a quick turnaround ahead of Game 4, “we made a very intentional effort to use our depth today and get everybody going,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.
CARLSON: Nikola Jokic was off again in Game 4. This time, OKC Thunder didn't squander opportunity.
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Aaron Wiggins saves basketball ... playoff series for Thunder
OKC’s biggest advantage over Denver is its depth. On Sunday, the Thunder’s bench outscored the Nuggets’ bench 35-8.
In a game where 3-pointers were so precious, Caruso, Wiggins and Wallace accounted for eight of the Thunder’s 10 long-range makes. Combined, they shot 8-of-14 (57%) from three.
The rest of their teammates were 2-of-27 (7%).
The triples from that bench trio were timely, too.
- Down six midway through the third quarter, Wiggins buries a three — assisted by Wallace — to cut Denver’s lead in half.
- Down six later in the third quarter, Wallace makes a 3-pointer to cut Denver’s lead to three yet again. On OKC’s next possession, Wiggins drills another three.
- Wallace, with 10:43 left in the game, hits a three to narrow Denver’s lead to four points. Wallace then hits his third three — on as many attempts — to give the Thunder a two-point lead with 8:35 to play.
Caruso’s 3-pointers (he was 2-of-5) came earlier in the game, but he was as clutch as could be in the fourth quarter. Doing classic Caruso things, like punching the ball out of Nikola Jokic’s hands for a Thunder rebound and junking up Denver’s offense by applying relentless pressure.
“They were huge,” Daigneault said of his bench. “They made huge shots and they gave us huge defense and toughness plays in that stretch of the game. Big, big time.”
5 TAKEAWAYS: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder are clutch to tie series vs Nuggets
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Alex Caruso replaces Lu Dort for Thunder vs Nuggets down stretch
Caruso played all but seven seconds of the fourth quarter. Daigneault rode Caruso down the stretch in place of starter Lu Dort, who wasn’t used at all in the fourth quarter.
Caruso didn’t make a shot in the fourth quarter, but he was instrumental in the Thunder outscoring the Nuggets 29-18 in the final frame.
The story of Sunday was the Thunder overcoming its clutch-time terrors. But OKC would not have made it to clutch time if not for the timely baskets and tenacious defense of Caruso, Wiggins and Wallace in the critical moments to close the third quarter and open the fourth.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander brought the game home with nine points in the fourth and a team-high 25 overall, but he didn’t get much offensive help from his main sidekicks.
Jalen Williams played excellent defense but had to beg for a bucket. Same goes for Chet Holmgren. Combined, J-Dub and Chet shot 6-of-23, including 0-of-8 from 3-point range.
The Thunder had to rely on a different Big Three in Game 4. And because of them, the series is headed to Game 5 all knotted up.
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at [email protected]. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
More: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can smile after Thunder's OT loss to Nuggets: 'Series is not over'
NBA Playoffs: Thunder vs. Nuggets | Western Conference semifinals
Best-of-seven; Games 5-7 if necessary.
- Game 1: Nuggets 121, Thunder 119 | Box score
- Game 2: Thunder 149, Nuggets 106 | Box score
- Game 3: Nuggets 113, Thunder 104 (OT) | Box score
- Game 4: Thunder 92, Nuggets 87 | Box score
- Game 5: Denver at OKC | 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 (TNT)
- Game 6: OKC at Denver | TBD Thursday, May 15 (ESPN)
- Game 7 (If necessary): Denver at OKC | TBD Sunday, May 17
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder roster shows off depth to beat Denver Nuggets in Game 4
Continue reading...
