Nuggets face elimination vs. Thunder in Game 6 (June 5, 2025) after a 112-105 Game 5 loss. Can Jokic lead Denver, despite MPJ's struggles, to force Game 7?
StatPro NBA Beat Reporter
Alright Nuggets Nation, buckle up. Tonight is the night. After a gut-wrenching 112-105 Game 5 loss on Tuesday that saw a nine-point fourth-quarter lead vanish into thin air, our Denver Nuggets are staring down elimination, trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder 3-2 in this rollercoaster series. The pressure is immense, the stakes are sky-high, and Ball Arena better be ready to erupt.
We got a locker room with guys that are champions and guys that had that championship DNA and that mindset. - Julian Strawther
Let's not sugarcoat it, Game 5 was a tough pill to swallow. Nikola Jokic was an absolute monster, dropping 44 points, grabbing 15 rebounds, and dishing out 5 assists – a Herculean effort that, heartbreakingly, wasn't enough. To build a solid lead in the fourth quarter on the road, only to see it slip away, stings. The Thunder, to their credit, ramped up their defense and hit timely shots, leaving us all wondering what could have been. Now, the focus shifts to tonight, where there's no margin for error.
One of the loudest narratives emerging from the Game 5 fallout revolves around Michael Porter Jr.'s performance. Scoring just 2 points on 1-for-7 shooting (a brutal 0-for-5 from three-point range) has ignited a firestorm among the fanbase. Those crucial missed threes in the closing minutes, when the Nuggets were desperately trying to claw back, were particularly painful. The calls are growing louder: should MPJ be benched for Game 6? Many are suggesting former MVP Russell Westbrook, despite his own inconsistencies at times, might provide a more reliable spark or at least a different look for the offense. It's a tough call for Coach Malone, balancing faith in a key player with the urgent need for production in an elimination game.
Despite the grim series deficit, there's still belief within the Nuggets' locker room. Guard Julian Strawther voiced that confidence, emphasizing the team's championship pedigree. "We got a locker room with guys that are champions and guys that had that championship DNA and that mindset," Strawther stated. He pointed to "game plan discipline errors" in Game 5 as correctable mistakes, rather than an insurmountable talent gap. "Right now all we focus on is going home having an opportunity to defend our home turf and then coming back here on Sunday and playing in game seven," he added. That's the mentality we need – a laser focus on tonight, and a belief that this series isn't over until the final buzzer sounds in a fourth win.
Tonight is more than just a game; it's a test of character, resilience, and the championship heart this Nuggets team possesses. Can they channel the frustration from Game 5, make the necessary adjustments, and force a decisive Game 7 back in OKC? Ball Arena needs to be an absolute fortress. The season hangs in the balance. Let's go Nuggets!
