In a dominant Game 2 performance, the Oklahoma City Thunder leveled their Western Conference semifinal series with a 149-106 win over the Denver Nuggets. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault addressed key moments from the game, highlighting the team’s resilience and execution.
Daigneault started by discussing the importance of defending the paint against Denver’s high-scoring offense. “They pound the paint with the ball, and that leads to fouls, offensive rebounds, and efficient shots,” he said. “We did a really good job today in the game with our energy and effort.” The Thunder’s defensive effort was a marked improvement from Game 1, where the Nuggets capitalized on the glass.
The coach also praised the contributions of Jalen Williams, who stepped up early in the game. “He was awesome. He’s really connected to the team,” Daigneault noted. Williams’ defensive work on Nikola Jokic was crucial in disrupting Denver’s offensive flow. Daigneault emphasized Williams’ competitive nature, acknowledging his motivation after a less-than-ideal performance in Game 1.
Reflecting on the team’s mentality, Daigneault stressed that the Thunder’s performance was consistent with their approach all season. “I didn’t really look at tonight as a response as much as I looked at tonight as just us being who we are,” he explained. “We don’t respond to the last game. When we win, we don’t have more confidence; when we lose, we don’t have more urgency.”
The Thunder’s fast-paced style was also a key factor in their success. Daigneault emphasized how getting stops allowed the team to push the tempo. “I thought we controlled a lot of the pace in the first one, and tonight might have looked faster because we were getting stops,” he said.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s stellar performance, with 34 points on 13 shots, was a game-changer. Daigneault praised his floor game and efficient scoring. “He was just super efficient,” Daigneault said. “He made them pay when they over-helped on him. He had the ball ahead of him all night, so he got his teammates shots too.”
Looking ahead, Daigneault remained grounded despite the commanding victory. “Score’s 1-1, that’s it,” he said, acknowledging the series is far from over. The Thunder now head to Denver for Game 3, with the series tied.
