DENVER — The difference in rest between the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder is vast, and while that is totally a factor, the former champions from the Mile High City know it’s just part of the deal in the playoffs.
The Nuggets have been playing basketball about every 48 hours since April 29, soon totaling six games in 11 days. Their foes from OKC have had starters play only six games since April 8. That’s just what happens when you’re battling for seeding and through a seven-game series versus locking up the top spot, then walking through Round 1 via sweep.
But it’s been the case for these two teams all year long, too. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played 30 or fewer minutes in 19 games this season. OKC was 18-1 in those contests because his reduction in time played mostly came when he was sitting in the fourth quarter as his team had already blown out their foe. Additionally, the Thunder played 11 players over 700 minutes this season, the Nuggets only did that with eight guys. During Game 2’s blowout OKC win, both these things happened — SGA played 30 minutes before sitting out the fourth quarter for rest. And where the Nuggets again taxed their six main players, the Thunder had eight scorers in double figures.
“Fatigue is a word you can use when you lose in the playoffs, and that is a factor, but fatigue is part of what the postseason is,” Nuggets interim head coach David Adelman said. “And when finding that next level, your second wind, your third wind, collectively, finding energy from each other is how you win these games. And it’s there are a million ways to break things down. You know, they’re out there playing more people than you, or they had eight days off. All those things. All those things are true. But the other truth is, well, we had enough energy to win Game 1 after two days after a Game 7. So why didn’t I have enough energy last night? So I think the guys have and it inside of them, and I think they’ll bring it tomorrow.”
DA with some interesting stuff on the Nuggets fatigue level and where the team’s energy is. Says it’s part of the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/VWBznrA2bB
— Jake Shapiro (@Shapalicious) May 8, 2025
Game 3 is on Friday and will mark the sixth game in 11 days. During the Nuggets’ championship run in 2023, they never played that many games in short succession, the closest being the six-game series against the Suns, which wrapped up over 13 days. The Nuggets’ early clinch and 20-game sprint through the playoffs were key factors in them capturing a title — a formula that is playing out now for OKC.
