Nuggets Coach David Adelman Praises Thunder for ‘Mentally Tough’ Game 4 Victory
Oklahoma City faced a tough situation on Sunday afternoon but managed to secure an important win with a strong finish. After dropping Game 3 in Denver, the Nuggets led the series 2-1 against the Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals.
With Game 4 starting just 36 hours after the conclusion of Game 3, the Thunder had a challenging task ahead of them on the road. A crucial victory was needed to avoid falling into a 3-1 hole in the series, all while facing a raucous Denver crowd.
To make matters more challenging, both teams were recovering from a grueling overtime battle in Game 3 and had just traveled from the Modern Frontier, where the first two games were played.
This compressed schedule may have contributed to the teams’ offensive struggles, as the Thunder and Nuggets combined for just 25 points in the first quarter, marking the lowest total for any quarter in playoff history.
While the tight turnaround may have impacted both teams’ shooting, Nuggets interim head coach David Adelman made it clear that the quick schedule wasn’t the reason his team lost on Sunday.
“It’s a challenge,” Adelman acknowledged. “But like I said, it’s the same challenge for them. I’m sure they rested up and stayed off their feet, knowing the early start would be tough. But give them credit; that was a mentally tough win. We were all dealing with the same circumstances, and they came out on top.”
That victory was crucial for OKC for several reasons.
First, avoiding a 3-1 deficit was vital, especially with the series now tied 2-2 as the Thunder head back to the Paycom Center, where the atmosphere is sure to be electric. Now, Oklahoma City only needs to win two of the remaining three games to advance in the series.
With Games 5 and 7 set to be played in OKC, the Thunder have home-court advantage in what has now become a best-of-three series. Though Denver’s experience and pedigree make them a tough opponent, Mark Daigneault and his team are in a solid position heading into the final stretch.
More importantly, the Thunder proved they can win close games against a seasoned team. After dominating much of the regular season with blowout victories, the young Thunder squad lacked experience in tight, clutch situations.
This lack of experience showed in Games 1 and 3, where the Nuggets outperformed OKC in the final quarter to claim victories despite trailing for much of those games. However, in Game 4, the Thunder had to battle back from a deficit, showcasing their ability to hang with some of the NBA’s most experienced teams when it matters most.
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