“The turnovers were a huge issue in this game obviously,” Denver’s interim head coach David Adelman said afterwards.

“Sometimes turnovers as a number don’t matter. But 16 steals off live ball turnovers — that’s 37 points off your mistakes. You’re not going to win a playoff game like that.”

Denver had produced a sensational performance on Friday to tie the series at 3-3 and set up Sunday’s decisive game seven in Oklahoma City.

The Nuggets started brightly at OKC’s Paycom Center, seizing an early 11-point lead midway through the first quarter and taking a five-point cushion into the second quarter at 26-21.

But the game flipped decisively in the second quarter as Oklahoma City unleashed the full force of their potent offense, erupting for 39 points to Denver’s 20.

Thunder forward Jalen Williams did the damage for the home team, scoring 17 points in the second quarter from 8-of-11 shooting to send Oklahoma City into halftime with a 60-46 lead.

Oklahoma City picked up where they left off in the second quarter when the third quarter got underway, outscoring Denver 37-26 to move into an unassailable lead.

“We wanted to keep the pressure on coming out of the half, as we haven’t been great in the third quarter this series,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We wanted to make that emphasis and come out stronger. We did so.”

The Thunder kept the points flowing into the fourth, and led by a massive margin of 43 points at 125-82 with just under four minutes remaining before coasting home.

Adelman meanwhile was left bemoaning his team’s failure to build on their bright start to the first quarter when they went 11 points clear.

“That was our opportunity to really take control of the game,” Adelman said. “But they kept bringing new people in and they overwhelmed us.

“I’m crushed for the guys in there. The effort they gave to get into this position and to have the opportunity today. To have the start that we wanted and then for it to go sideways so quickly…it’s crushing.”

© 2025 AFP