After struggling heavily in Games 1 through 4, Nikola Jokic broke through in a pivotal Game 5 loss to the Thunder.
The Nuggets’ three-time MVP center entered Tuesday night having shot a combined 15-of-47 (31.9 percent) from the field in his previous two outings. It did not take long for him to make those uncharacteristic showings a distant memory in Game 5.
Jokic came out of the gates firing, scoring nine points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field in the first quarter. Notably, Jokic’s first-quarter output outdid his team’s historically paltry eight-point showing in Game 4.
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As it is often said, Jokic started fast and finished strong, but his performance was not enough, as Denver couldn’t hold off OKC in front of a rowdy home crowd. On the back of their own MVP candidate, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31 points, seven assists, six rebounds), the Thunder overcame an eight-point deficit entering the fourth quarter to come away with a 112-105 win. While Jokic’s efforts proved futile, they were one for the books.
Here is a closer look at Jokic’s performance in Game 5.
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Nikola Jokic Game 5 stats vs. Thunder
After scoring nine points in the first quarter, Jokic added 10 more points in the second to set up a 25-point second-half showing.
He finished with a game-high 44 points on an efficient 68.0 percent shooting from the field, including 5-of-7 from 3-point range. Jokic did it all without getting to the line, though he made the most of his five attempts at the charity stripe.
Here’s a look at the full stat line:
- 44 points
- 17-25 (68.0 %) FG
- 5-7 (71.4%) 3FG
- 5-5 (100.0%) FTs
- 15 rebounds
- 5 assists
- 2 steals
- 2 turnovers
After making 15 shots in his two previous games, Jokic connected on 17 field goal attempts in Game 5 alone.
There were few answers for him defensively, and he also made his presence felt on the other side of the floor with two steals and a big drawn charge in the second half. Unfortunately for the Nuggets, the efforts came in a gut-wrenching loss.
Nikola Jokic Game 5 highlights vs. Thunder
As the numbers would suggest, there weren’t many answers for Jokic in the first half. He flirted with a double-double in the first 24 minutes, entering the break with 19 points and nine rebounds on 61.5 percent shooting from the field.
Jokić took over for Denver in the first half!
🃏 19 points
🃏 9 rebounds
🃏 8-13 shootingThe @nuggets are looking to secure a 3-2 lead on the road! pic.twitter.com/yX5qM1of7b
— NBA (@NBA) May 14, 2025
The third quarter was reminiscent of the Jokic-Jamal Murray pairing fans saw plenty of during the 2020 NBA Bubble and Denver’s 2023 NBA title run.
Jokić and Murray combine for 25 of Denver’s 30 third quarter points 😲
Jokić: 12 points (31 in Game)
Murray: 13 points (24 in Game)Nuggets seek a 3-2 lead on the road tonight on TNT! pic.twitter.com/LDwzeKlKyR
— NBA (@NBA) May 14, 2025
Perhaps Jokic’s most impressive play of the game came in one of the biggest spots as he used his signature Sombor Shuffle to set up a turnaround 3 that beat the shot clock and tied things up late.
JOKER WITH A CRAZY 3 FOR 44!
GET TO TNT FOR A WILD GAME 5 FINISH!!! pic.twitter.com/RT0Nmrir7m
— NBA (@NBA) May 14, 2025
