Fourth-Quarter Collapse: Jokic Drops 44, But Where Did the Nuggets Truly Lose Game 5?

In a pivotal Game 5 showdown, the Denver Nuggets saw their championship hopes take a serious hit as they suffered a 112-105 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite Nikola Jokic delivering a masterclass performance with 44 points, Denver simply ran out of answers in the fourth quarter. What was shaping up to be a statement win for the defending champs quickly devolved into a haunting reminder: even the greatest big man in the game today can’t do it all alone.

Let’s unpack how exactly the Nuggets fumbled this one—and why no one should be blaming Jokic.

Thunder Strike in the Fourth

For much of the night, the Nuggets were in control. After absorbing an early 12-2 punch from the Thunder, Denver responded with their usual poise and actually led for the majority of the contest. Oklahoma City, by contrast, looked shaky—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a pedestrian first half, and the offense seemed stuck in mud. But then came the fourth quarter, and the script flipped completely.

OKC outscored Denver 34-19 in the final period, unleashing the kind of two-way fury that propelled them to 68 regular-season wins. It was in this 12-minute window that Shai reminded everyone why he’s the MVP.

SGA scored 20 of his 31 points in the second half, including a closing sequence that essentially buried the Nuggets:

• At 3:33 left, his layup gave OKC a 98-96 lead.

• At 2:02, he nailed a step-back jumper plus the foul to make it 102-100.

• At 0:48, a cold-blooded three extended the lead to 109-103.

• At 0:22, he calmly sank two free throws to all but seal it at 111-103.

This was a superstar closing out a critical game like an MVP should. Shai's final stat line: 31 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks on 12-of-23 shooting. While his first half was forgettable, his second half—and especially that fourth quarter—was nothing short of brilliant.

But Shai didn’t do it alone.

Thunder Depth Shows Up

This was a complete team effort for OKC:

• Jalen Williams put up 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists, including a crucial three-pointer that answered Jokic’s absurd triple late in the game. That shot might’ve been the single most important bucket of the night.

• Lu Dort, known primarily for his defense, erupted for 12 points—all of them in the fourth quarter—on 3-of-3 shooting from deep. His barrage helped flip the momentum entirely.

• Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein combined for 29 points and 15 rebounds on 13-of-19 shooting. They held the paint defensively and didn’t give up cheap buckets.

• Alex Caruso led the second unit with 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. His presence helped stabilize OKC’s bench minutes and gave head coach Mark Daigneault enough confidence to ride a second-unit-heavy lineup for stretches.

Daigneault's trust in his depth paid off in a major way. When the Thunder needed a collective push, everyone stepped up.

Jokic, and the Island of Isolation

Let’s be very clear: Nikola Jokic did everything humanly possible in Game 5. The reigning MVP went 17-of-25 from the field, including 5-of-7 from three, while adding 15 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals—all with just two turnovers. In the fourth quarter alone, Jokic scored 13 points and hit an outrageous step-back three that momentarily brought Denver back into it.

But it wasn’t enough. And that’s the story of the Nuggets' postseason so far.

Game after game, Jokic has carried this team, but the supporting cast continues to fall short when it matters most.

Jamal Murray’s Vanishing Act

Jamal Murray had a solid first three quarters—scoring 24 points heading into the final frame—but he completely vanished in the fourth. He went 1-of-6 for just four points in the final 12 minutes, including several missed open looks and one lazy turnover that led to an OKC fast break.

At his best, Murray is the Nuggets' closer, the shot creator who takes pressure off Jokic. But when the game slowed down, he couldn’t create separation, couldn't finish in traffic, and simply faded from relevance.

Michael Porter Jr.: A Liability?

It’s time we had the uncomfortable conversation about Michael Porter Jr.

His Game 5 performance was, once again, disastrous: 1-of-7 shooting, 0-of-5 from deep, just 2 points. This wasn’t an anomaly—it’s been the trend all series:

• Game 1: 2 points on 1-of-8 shooting

• Game 2: 8 points on 2-of-10

• Game 3: 21 points (his only good game)

• Game 4: 3 points on 1-of-7

• Game 5: 2 points on 1-of-7

Across five games, Porter is shooting 25.9% from three. That includes a stretch of 2-for-21 in four of the five games. Yes, he’s dealing with a shoulder injury. But let’s not forget—he played through that same injury in the first round and still shot 44.1% from deep. The difference now is pressure. And under that pressure, MPJ has cracked.

Porter’s cold streak has extended beyond shooting. He’s not defending with urgency, his off-ball movement is sluggish, and he’s made almost no impact on the boards. Right now, he’s a high-usage black hole.

And when you're a non-defensive wing who can’t hit shots? You become unplayable.

Others Falling Short

• Aaron Gordon had a modest 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, but shot just 6-of-13 and made little defensive impact.

• Christian Braun was ineffective offensively (3-of-12), and his defensive hustle didn’t make up for it.

• Russell Westbrook, while bringing energy on defense, missed six of his seven shots and had multiple airballed threes. He looked completely lost offensively.

• The Nuggets bench combined for just 17 points, and most of that came during garbage time or when the Thunder’s second unit was resting.

So… Where Did the Nuggets Lose?

It comes down to three main factors:

1. Fourth-Quarter Execution: The Nuggets were outscored by 15 points in the final frame. Their offensive possessions became stagnant, ball movement died, and everyone besides Jokic turned into a spectator.

2. Supporting Cast Collapse: Jokic’s 44 points masked the brutal reality—no one else on the Nuggets delivered when it counted. Murray and Porter Jr. were particularly disappointing.

3. Thunder Depth & Energy: OKC played with the urgency of a team that knows it belongs. They forced turnovers, hit timely shots, and never stopped competing—even when they were trailing late.

The truth is, this loss wasn’t about Jokic. He gave Denver everything he had—and then some. This was about a team whose flaws, masked during the regular season and early playoff rounds, were laid bare under the bright lights of a Game 5 pressure cooker.

And if Denver falls short this postseason? Don’t be surprised if MPJ’s name is the first to surface in trade rumors. The Nuggets bet big on continuity, but if their run ends early, that bet may be reevaluated quickly.

Final Thought

Nikola Jokic gave us a masterclass in Game 5. But basketball is a team sport, and in the playoffs, no man—no matter how great—can carry a franchise alone. The Nuggets had their MVP, but the Thunder had the army. And when it mattered most, one superstar wasn’t enough.