Mark Daigneault breaks down the Thunder's 4Q/OT offense in Game 3 loss to Nuggets - Yahoo Sports
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 09: Head coach Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on against the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena on May 09, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
With the entire NBA world's attention, the Oklahoma City Thunder melted under the pressure in their 113-104 Game 3 overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets. Flat out. There's no other way to really put it.
Much like last year's playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks, the Thunder's offense fell apart in crunch time. Except this time, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander couldn't bail them out. They only scored 21 points in the final 17 minutes. They went scoreless for the final 1:11 in regulation. And they only made two field goals in the final nine minutes.
Advertisement
What could've been a dagger from Jalen Williams on a catch-and-shoot look turned out to be the Thunder's only bucket for over five minutes until Chet Holmgren had an easy dunk in overtime to ensure they wouldn't lay a goose egg.
Every Thunder pessimist's fears manifested in Game 3. The Thunder panicked in their halfcourt offense. One of the NBA's best offenses couldn't generate quality looks and experienced scoring droughts that allowed the Nuggets to hang around and eventually take the lead.
Sleeping on the frustrating loss that put them in a 2-1 Round 2 series deficit, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault reiterated what he felt postgame. It was another game where the execution was poor as OKC's offense devolved into Gilgeous-Alexander hero-ball.
“We had some ugly possessions. Call it like it is. Where our execution wasn't where it needed to be. Wasn't where it needed to be was a reflection on fundamentals," Daigneault said. "It wasn't anything tricky they were doing or anything we needed to reinvent."
Advertisement
The Thunder are running out of room for error. They'll enter Game 4 in a must-win situation. While the Game 3 loss stems from frustrations and avoidable mistakes, all they needed to do was split their Denver trip and still have the chance to do that against the Nuggets.
"I thought our process could’ve been better. That’s all we can really control. I trust the guys to make the right plays. They trust each other to make the right plays," Daigneault said. "Some of the shots were a reflection of execution that was less than perfect.”
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Mark Daigneault on Thunder's 4Q/OT offense in Game 3 loss to Nuggets
