The Denver Nuggets return to Ball Arena on May 15, 2025, for a critical Game 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder with the series tied 2-2, needing a win to reassert control and protect their home floor in what has become a fiercely competitive Western Conference Semifinals. While Denver boasts a strong 26-14 home record this season, the defending champions have shown signs of vulnerability, particularly due to the physical and mental toll of their seven-game first-round battle and the relentless pace and length of a young, fearless Thunder squad. Nikola Jokić, the three-time MVP and the cornerstone of Denver’s system, continues to stuff the stat sheet with his trademark efficiency, rebounding, and passing wizardry, but the burden on his shoulders has grown as the series progresses, with his shooting percentages dipping slightly under increased defensive attention and exhaustion. The Nuggets’ supporting cast, headlined by Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., has been effective in spurts but inconsistent overall, with Porter Jr. struggling to string together back-to-back strong shooting performances and Murray often drawing elite defenders like Lu Dort or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, limiting his ability to control the tempo and initiate easy offense. Denver’s bench has been outplayed by Oklahoma City’s younger, more energetic reserves, placing more pressure on the starters to play extended minutes and leaving them exposed defensively during staggered rotations, especially when Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams are on the floor.

Defensively, the Nuggets have found some success when doubling Gilgeous-Alexander on ball screens and collapsing on drives, but they’ve struggled to recover to the Thunder’s shooters and have been burned in transition when live-ball turnovers occur. Head coach Michael Malone has emphasized discipline and defensive rebounding, knowing that Oklahoma City thrives off second-chance opportunities and fast-break points, areas Denver must dominate if they want to retake momentum in the series. The home crowd at Ball Arena is likely to be a major factor, as the altitude and atmosphere have traditionally played in Denver’s favor, and with the stakes as high as they’ve been all season, the Nuggets will need to feed off that energy early and establish a physical tone that throws Oklahoma City off their rhythm. Ball movement, paint touches, and controlling the boards will be essential for the Nuggets, who cannot afford another cold-shooting night from beyond the arc or stagnant possessions late in the shot clock that result in forced looks. This is the kind of game where Denver’s championship pedigree and leadership will be tested, with veterans like Aaron Gordon and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope needing to bring toughness and poise in key moments. If Jokić can get early help and Denver tightens its rotations defensively, they are more than capable of protecting home court and positioning themselves to finish the series strong—but anything less than a fully locked-in performance could leave the door open for a youthful Thunder team eager to seize control.