Game 6 between the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder promises to be the most intense showdown of their Western Conference semifinal series yet. With the Thunder up 3-2, they’re one win away from advancing to the conference finals, while the defending champion Nuggets are fighting to stay alive. The series has been tightly contested — despite an 18-game regular season gap between the two — proving how little that stat has mattered in the postseason.
Tip-off is set for Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Here are four major storylines to watch in what’s sure to be a thriller.
1. MVP Duel: Shai vs. Jokić
Game 5 finally delivered what fans were waiting for: a true head-to-head clash between MVP finalists Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Jokić erupted for 44 points and 15 rebounds, while Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 31 points and dished out seven assists, guiding OKC’s late-game execution.
Both stars are essential to their teams’ identities, and Game 6 likely hinges on which one can carry their squad again. With the league still holding off on announcing this year’s MVP, the on-court battle between these two has become the unofficial deciding vote. If this goes to a Game 7, the duel between Shai and Jokić could go down as one of the great playoff matchups in recent memory.
2. Pressure Point: Coaching Spotlight on David Adelman
The Nuggets made a surprising move by parting ways with head coach Michael Malone just before the postseason, thrusting assistant David Adelman into the head coaching role. While Adelman guided the team past the Lakers in Round 1, this series is proving to be a major challenge.
A big decision looms: what to do with Michael Porter Jr.? The streaky forward has failed to make an impact in three of five games, scoring three points or fewer in those outings. His poor shooting has created extra pressure on other Nuggets scorers, and Adelman may have to consider benching him in favor of players like Julian Strawther or Peyton Watson.
If Adelman can guide Denver to a Game 7 — and perhaps beyond — it could solidify his case for becoming the Nuggets’ permanent head coach.
3. Thunder’s Defensive Rotation on Jokić
Oklahoma City has relied on a three-man rotation to slow down the Joker, with varying success. Isaiah Hartenstein offers physicality and size, Chet Holmgren brings elite shot-blocking, and Jaylin Williams brings grit and unexpected toughness.
Holmgren, despite being undersized for the Jokić matchup, has been especially valuable when helping off the ball. When paired with Hartenstein, the Thunder create a formidable frontcourt wall that has frustrated Jokić at times. Williams, meanwhile, has had moments of psychological warfare, including drawing an offensive foul in a humorous Game 5 standoff.
Expect all three to rotate again in Game 6 as OKC tries to limit Jokić’s impact without overcommitting defensively.
4. Can Denver Keep Up Physically?
The Nuggets haven’t had a two-day break since April, thanks to a grueling seven-game series against the Clippers followed by this slugfest with OKC. Fatigue was apparent in Game 5, especially in the fourth quarter.
With their season on the line, Adelman may have no choice but to ask heavy minutes from Jokić, Jamal Murray, and the rest of the starting lineup. But with the Thunder enjoying fresher legs after a quicker first-round series, Denver will need to dig deep for one more full-effort performance.
