The Oklahoma City Thunder triumphed over the Denver Nuggets with a score of 112-105 in a crucial game on Tuesday night, placing themselves in the lead of the Western Conference semifinal series at 3-2.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the star of the night, scoring 31 points and dishing out seven assists. This victory was particularly notable considering the aggressive performance by Nikola Jokic, who tallied 44 points and 15 rebounds for Denver.

Oklahoma City started strong, taking an early 12-2 lead, but Denver rallied back and ultimately led by 11 points in the second quarter. By halftime, the score was close at 56-54 in favor of Denver.

In the third quarter, Jamal Murray contributed significantly, scoring 13 points, leading the Nuggets to an 86-78 lead going into the final period. However, a crucial stretch by Lu Dort helped narrow Denver’s advantage to 92-90.

In a tense finish, Jalen Williams hit a 3-pointer that gave the Thunder a 106-103 lead with just over a minute remaining, followed by another 3-pointer from Gilgeous-Alexander, extending their lead to six points.

The Thunder now have the opportunity to clinch the series in Game 6 in Denver.