Nuggets Drop Game 4: 4 Pain Points Exposed! Jokic’s Cold Streak Continues, Westbrook Struggles, Two Key Players Go Ice Cold in Clutch

In Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals, the Denver Nuggets lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder 87-92. It was a gritty defensive battle, but the Thunder pulled away in the second and third quarters. Despite a late push by the Nuggets, they couldn’t close the gap and ultimately fell short. Four key issues led to this loss:

1. Jokic’s Cold Shooting Continues
Nikola Jokic has now had three straight games of poor shooting. Tonight he went 7-of-22 from the field. In the last three games, he’s shot 7-of-22, 8-of-25, and 6-of-16. These percentages are brutal. More concerning is that he hasn’t been impactful on defense either. He even slipped and fell multiple times on offense, drawing criticism. This series is hurting his reputation, and with the tight schedule, there’s little time for him to rest and recover.

2. Westbrook’s Rough Night
Russell Westbrook had a terrible game, shooting 2-of-12 overall and 2-of-9 from three-point range, finishing with just 6 points and the worst +/- on the team. While he’s been a focal point for the Nuggets, his offensive efficiency has fallen off a cliff. That said, not every game will be this bad—his defensive effort remains solid, and there’s hope he can bounce back in future games.

3. Bryan Misses Crucial Shots
In crunch time, the cold shooting of two players really hurt the Nuggets. Bryan has been struggling lately and missed three wide-open threes in the final moments, which could have changed the outcome. He finished 4-of-11 from the field and just 2-of-9 from beyond the arc—devastating misses in such a close game.

4. Murray’s Isolation Play Backfires
Jamal Murray was another letdown. In the fourth quarter, he over-dribbled and ignored open teammates, choosing instead to go one-on-one, resulting in turnovers or slowed pace. Murray is vital to the Nuggets, and when he’s off, the team suffers. He played 41 minutes but only shot 5-of-15. He needs to be more flexible and decisive in his playmaking.