Game 3 of Thunder-Nuggets mirrored Game 1 in a lot of ways.
Denver solved the puzzle down the stretch. OKC failed to find the right pieces.
The Nuggets beat the Thunder 113-104 in overtime Friday to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Let’s get to the grades.
Jalen Williams: A
The Thunder wing had his best outing of the playoffs, scoring a game-high 32 points on 11-of-21 shooting.
And as good as Williams was all night, he was at his best in the fourth quarter. He scored 16 points in the final frame of regulation, hitting a wide array of shots. A 3 from the left wing. An up-and-under on a drive. Free throws. A pull-up jumper at the right elbow. A hesitation drive. Another 3, this one from the top of the key with the shot clock running down. More free throws.
That made the fact that Williams got only two shots in overtime a total head-scratcher.
But Williams added to what’s been a great playoffs. He has been aggressive and forceful, and for a budding star who needed to step up his game in the postseason, Williams has more than delivered.
— Jenni Carlson
Free-throw shooting: D
The Thunder missed seven free throws through three quarters Friday night. In crunch time, OKC made all the free shots.
But the damage was done.
In a game that went to overtime, a few more makes from the free-throw line might’ve given the Thunder a regulation victory and avoided overtime altogether.
No one Thunder was terrible at the line — five players missed one — but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander uncharacteristically missed two. An off night for the MVP favorite was even off there.
— Jenni Carlson
Michael Porter Jr.: A+
Michael Porter Jr. dove on the floor late in the third quarter and forced a jump ball. Playing with a bum left shoulder, Porter not only made shots Friday night, but also showed some serious grit, which, let’s be honest, he’s not typically known for that.
Porter shot a combined 3 of 18 in Games 1 and 2. He was 7 of 10 in Game 3, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range.
— Joe Mussatto
Defending Nikola Jokic: A+
Jokic shot 8 of 25 (32%) from the floor with more turnovers (eight) than assists (six).
Seriously, the Thunder spoiled a tremendous defensive effort against the three-time MVP. Once again, Jaylin Williams was big off the bench in his willingness to bang with Jokic.
Jokic was 0 of 10 from behind the arc. Don’t credit the Thunder for all of those misses, but rather in forcing Jokic into attempting 10 3-pointers.
— Joe Mussatto
Rebounding: B
After getting outrebounded by 20 boards in Game 1, the Thunder has clearly turned around that trend. Oklahoma City won the battle of the boards 62-60 in Game 3 and was particularly stingy on the defensive end. Denver didn’t have a single offensive rebound in the first half, and it wasn’t until mid-way through the third quarter that the Nuggets snagged an offensive board.
But in overtime, Denver did a better job on the boards. It allowed OKC only one offensive rebound even though it missed six shots.
Not having any second cracks at the basket was a killer.
— Jenni Carlson
Transition: B
Much like the first-round series against the Grizzlies, the Thunder has slowed down one of the toughest transition teams in the league. The Nuggets often win the fastbreak battle because of Nikola Jokic’s passing, baseball-variety heaves that beat every defender to the other end of the court. But the Thunder has gotten back quickly and limited those opportunities.
On Friday night, OKC had 14 fastbreak points to Denver’s seven.
The only thing that would’ve made it a better transition night for the Thunder was scoring more in the fastbreak. Baskets were difficult to come by, and the runouts are preferred.
— Jenni Carlson
Points in the paint: B
The Thunder lived at the rim, outscoring the Nuggets 56-32 in paint points.
In the first half, the Thunder made 10 field goals inside the restricted area and only 13 outside of it.
Denver walled off the paint in the fourth quarter and overtime, though. OKC shot just 4 of 15 in the paint in the final 17 minutes.
— Joe Mussatto
3-point shooting: F
Denver made 16 3-pointers on 40% shooting. OKC made nine 3-pointers on 26% shooting.
That’s losing math. OKC only had six games in the regular season in which it shot worse from 3.
Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon combined to shoot 9 of 12 from deep for Denver. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort and Chet Holmgren were a combined 2 of 16.
Three-point sniper Isaiah Joe played only three minutes. He missed his only long-range attempt.
— Joe Mussatto