Denver Need To Stay Ahead To Stay Alive

Lack of depth, overworked Jokic also put Nuggets in danger of strikeout by Thunder

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DENVER - The Denver Nuggets had leads on Oklahoma City in the fourth quarter for two consecutive National Basketball Association (NBA) play-off games but could not hold the Thunder down.

They lost both leads and games, erasing any margin for error and complacency heading into Game 6 on May 15 (May 16, Singapore time).

The Thunder's ability to rally late, including their 112-105 home win in Game 5, have given them a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference best-of-seven semi-finals series, and they can advance with a win in Denver.

Oklahoma City, the top seeds, have not been to the Conference Finals since 2016 when they let a 3-1 series lead slip away. The Thunder lost in seven games to the Golden State Warriors.

They had a big lead in Game 6 of that series, and although no one on this roster was in that team, the players know they need to be focused on finishing and not always depend on bouncing back late in games.

"It's a close-out game in Denver against a really good team. I expect nothing less than what it is. We have to lock in," Thunder big man Chet Holmgren said.