Nuggets Lead Thunder 2-1 in NBA Western Conference Semifinals

The Oklahoma City Thunder, despite a historic 68-win regular season and being the NBA's top seed, find themselves trailing 2-1 against the Denver Nuggets in their Western Conference semifinal series and face significant adversity for the first time this postseason. Their youth and inexperience have been highlighted as a factor in close losses, with execution faltering in critical moments such as the fourth quarter and overtime, where star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggled to score. The Nuggets, leveraging their playoff experience and clutch performances, have won two tight games, with Nikola Jokic playing a crucial role despite some shooting struggles. Game 4 is pivotal, with the Thunder needing to overcome a 3-1 deficit scenario that historically is difficult to surmount, while the Nuggets have a healthy roster and momentum from their recent comeback win. Both teams enter Game 4 with mostly healthy lineups, though the Thunder continue to be without Nikola Topic due to injury. The series underscores the challenge top seeds face in the playoffs when confronted with pressure and experienced opponents, and whether the Thunder can overcome inexperience and execute under pressure remains to be seen.