5 Takeaways from Game 5: OKC Thunder push Nuggets to the brink

The Oklahoma City Thunder earned a massive Game 5 win at home, taking a 3-2 series lead over the Denver Nuggets. Here are five key takeaways from a pivotal night in OKC:

1. Shai’s Confidence Never Wavers

SGA hadn’t hit a three-pointer in two straight games until he drilled a crucial one late in Game 5. Rather than shy away, he leaned into his preparation and instincts. “It felt like it’s about time,” Shai said postgame. “I could have turned it down… but it’s something that I’m confident in.” It was a moment that reminded everyone why he's a top MVP candidate not just for his skill, but for his belief in the work he’s put in.

VIDEO: SGA Game 5 full postgame press conference ⬇️

2. Lu Dort Game-Changer

Though not always a box score standout, Lu Dort’s impact in Game 5 was undeniable. Shai compared the emotion after Dort’s big three-pointers to "a family member being hurt" a metaphor for how deeply Dort’s energy affects the team. “We wouldn’t have been able to win tonight if Lu didn’t make those shots,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. His defensive tenacity and unwavering confidence continue to define OKC’s playoff identity.

RELATED: Lu Dort rises to the occasion in 4th quarter to help save Thunder

3. The Bench Shined

The Thunder’s second unit opened the fourth quarter with a bang. Players like Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, and J-Will gave OKC a crucial burst of energy, executing with pace and defensive grit. Coach Daigneault praised their “shooting resilience” and called out Wallace specifically for his dogged defense on Jamal Murray. “He was in Murray’s pocket… he’s got great speed and strength,” Daigneault said. It's the kind of depth that wears down even the defending champs. Denver's bench has been the opposite. MPJ has been reduced to a role player after one good game in the series, and the non-Jokic Nuggets were 1 for 15 in the 4th quarter. Has the short bench caught up with them?

WATCH: Thunder vs. Nuggets Postgame Show Game 5

4. It Wasn’t Flashy

Time and time again, both Shai and Coach Daigneault emphasized that nothing in Game 5 felt out of the ordinary. “There’s been no secret formula,” Shai said. “We just flex the muscles we’ve worked on all year.” From passing out of traps to moving the ball for open corner threes, the Thunder’s success stemmed from staying true to their identity. And in a playoff series with few margins for error, that discipline matters.

STORY: 'We're a better team now:' Mark Daigneault and Thunder one win away from Western Conference Finals

5. Experience Is the Best Teacher

Daigneault made it clear: this Thunder team is better today than it was when the series began. “These games are rich with lessons,” he said. “Every time you take a punch and stand back up, you build more confidence.” Two things can be true. The Thunder can and have lost games in this series from a lack of experience in big moments and OKC has grown from those moments. Wild emotional swings from one game to the next shouldn't carry that much weight after a loss. You get multiple opportunities in a series and OKC has adjusted. From tactical adjustments to emotional maturity, the Thunder are showing the kind of postseason growth that may just carry them into the Western Conference Finals.