DENVER – The hole in the Thunder’s defense was at the three-point line throughout a blistering 40-point first quarter by the Denver Nuggets. Turned out that the Thunder’s comeback hopes would fall short that way too.
After giving up 40, 32 and 32 points in the first three periods, the Thunder’s defense suddenly tightened up in the fourth quarter behind a grimy, scrappy effort by the second unit and scintillating performances by Paul George and Russell Westbrook down the stretch. With just 1.4 seconds left in regulation, the Thunder had allowed just 20 fourth quarter points.