By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Storming back in the fourth quarter, the Oklahoma City Thunder prevailed, 112-105, over the Denver Nuggets and Nikola Jokic.
The Serbian superstar scored 44 points in Game 5 of a best-of-seven series of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google, behind 17/25 field goals, including five three-pointers. He logged 44 minutes in Paycom Center on Tuesday and put up 15 rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
In addition to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tallying a team-high 31 points, German Isaiah Hartenstein helped his side build a 3-2 lead with 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal in 33 minutes.
French Ousmane Dieng and Belgian Ajay Mitchell stayed on the bench, with Serbian Nikola Topic (left knee surgery) on the Thunder’s injury list. On the other hand, Slovenian Vlatko Cancar and Croatian Dario Saric did not play.
Earlier, the Indiana Pacers progressed to the Eastern Conference Finals after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers, 114-105, in Rocket Arena.
2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google
Conference Quarterfinals (best of seven)
East
Cleveland Cavaliers – Miami Heat 4-0 (121-100, 121-112, 124-87, 138-83)
Boston Celtics – Orlando Magic 4-1 (103-86, 109-100, 93-95, 107-98, 120-89)
New York Knicks – Detroit Pistons 4-2 (123-112, 94-100, 118-116, 94-93, 103-106, 116-113)
Indiana Pacers – Milwaukee Bucks 4-1 (117-98, 123-115, 101-117, 129-103, 119-118)
West
Oklahoma City Thunder – Memphis Grizzlies 4-0 (131-80, 118-99, 114-108, 117-115)
Houston Rockets – Golden State Warriors 3-4 (85-95, 109-94, 93-104, 106-109, 131-116, 115-107, 89-103)
Los Angeles Lakers – Minnesota Timberwolves 1-4 (95-117, 94-85, 104-116, 113-116, 96-103)
Denver Nuggets – Los Angeles Clippers 4-3 (112-110, 102-105, 83-117, 101-99, 131-115, 105-111, 120-101)
Conference Semifinals (best of seven)
East
Cleveland Cavaliers – Indiana Pacers 1-4 (112-121, 119-120, 126-104, 109-129, 105-114)
Boston Celtics – New York Knicks 1-3 (105-108, 90-91, 115-93, 113-121)
West
Oklahoma City Thunder – Denver Nuggets 3-2 (119-121, 149-106, 104-113, 92-87, 112-105)
Minnesota Timberwolves – Golden State Warriors 3-1 (88-99, 117-93, 102-97, 117-110)
Conference Finals (best of seven)
East
Indiana Pacers – New York Knicks OR Boston Celtics
West
Oklahoma City Thunder OR Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves OR Golden State Warriors
NBA Finals (best of seven)
Eastern Conference and Western Conference champions