Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault credited a resilient defensive effort and critical contributions from his reserves following Sunday’s 92–87 Game 4 victory over the Denver Nuggets, evening the Western Conference Semifinals at two games apiece.
Speaking postgame, Daigneault pointed to a lockdown fourth-quarter stretch and a gritty collective approach that helped Oklahoma City overcome a second-half deficit.
“We really, really stacked stops,” Daigneault said. “Made them earn everything, especially down the stretch.”
Daigneault highlighted the start of the fourth quarter, when the Thunder erased a seven-point hole with three consecutive three-pointers from Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace.
“Those guys were huge today,” he said. “Great readiness by them. They brought great energy to the game.”
Wallace drew praise for his composure and impact on both ends. Daigneault described him as “unbelievable on Murray,” adding that he “made some big hustle plays” and “was fresh and ready to compete.”
Veterans Alex Caruso and Wiggins also earned specific mention for their poise and execution during that stretch, as Daigneault emphasized the importance of Oklahoma City’s bench depth following an overtime Game 3 and quick turnaround.
“We made a very intentional effort to use our depth today,” he explained. “Everybody that touched the floor brought energy to the game.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggled to find looks early in the second half but took over in the final five minutes, scoring key buckets and facilitating down the stretch.
“The last guy you’re worried about bouncing back from a tough shooting night is him,” Daigneault said. “He delivered big-time for us.”
The Thunder also held Jamal Murray to 17 points on 15 attempts and Nikola Jokic to 7-of-22 shooting, a result of what Daigneault called “a collective approach.”
“We tried to keep fresh legs on him and on Jokic,” Daigneault noted. “We’re trying to utilize the strength of our team to try to slow them down.”
Asked about Lu Dort’s shooting slump in the postseason, Daigneault reaffirmed confidence in the wing’s ability.
“He’s the last guy I’m worried about,” he said. “He’s made big shots in big moments in playoff games.”
Despite the physical nature of the matchup, Oklahoma City won the rebounding battle for the third straight contest, a point of emphasis after Game 1.
“They were firing in there, and we really had to earn a lot of those rebounds,” Daigneault said. “Great effort by the guys.”
While acknowledging the importance of the win, Daigneault made clear that the series remains far from decided.
“It’s a series to four, and it’s 2–2 right now,” he said. “Every time you take punches and you get back up, you get stronger.”
