Denver Nuggets interim head coach David Adelman did not hold back after a 92-87 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday tied the Western Conference Semifinals at 2-2.
Speaking postgame, Adelman emphasized that poor execution down the stretch — not fatigue alone — was to blame for Denver’s fourth-quarter breakdown.
“I thought a lot of tired legs out there from both teams,” Adelman said, but added, “we can’t go 10-for-25 near the rim… It’s so hard to get there.”
Despite an eight-point lead early in the fourth, the Nuggets were outscored 26-14 in the final frame and failed to generate consistent offense when it mattered.
“When you can’t make a shot, at some point it’s going to affect you,” Adelman explained, crediting his team for staying in the game despite first-half struggles.
Oklahoma City’s bench, particularly Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins, hit key three-pointers late, a detail Adelman pointed to as decisive.
“You give their team credit… in a really disgusting basketball game, those guys made plays — and enough plays to push them over the edge,” he said.
Adelman accepted responsibility for a critical five-second violation with 4:30 left, calling it an “execution mistake” and admitting, “that’s on me.”
He stressed the importance of maintaining offensive rhythm, saying the team “got worn down a little bit in the fourth quarter” due to over-reliance on isolation and pick-and-roll.
The coach acknowledged Nikola Jokic’s frustration with officiating but said Denver must finish through contact, especially in the paint.
“You have to complement the three-point line with some paint points,” Adelman stated, after the Nuggets scored just 30 points inside.
With limited rest between Games 3 and 4, Adelman noted both teams were impacted, but refused to blame the schedule.
“It was almost impossible,” he said of recovery between the contests, “but like I said — same challenge for them.”
Adelman hinted at a possible rotation adjustment moving forward, saying, “I have to maybe play more than eight guys… I got to try to be as creative as I can.”
He also praised Peyton Watson’s energy in under nine minutes of action, calling it “super hard” play.
The Nuggets will now regroup ahead of a pivotal Game 5 in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder have not lost this postseason.
“We found a way to win down there before,” Adelman said, “so we’ll regroup tomorrow, watch the film, get better for Game 5.”
