Oklahoma City shows poise in crunch time, Lu Dort delivers at both ends and the Thunder move closer a step closer to the West Finals.

As for Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray? They scoff at the notion of fatigue playing a factor in back-to-back blown leads to the Thunder.

The Oklahoma City Thunder survived another thriller in a 112-105 Game 5 win over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. They now hold a 3-2 lead in their Round 2 NBA playoffs series. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with an efficient 31 points. Lu Dort scored an important 12 points. Jalen Williams had 18 points and nine rebounds.

Jokic said Oklahoma City still played the same kind of defense that bothered him in Games 2 through 4, when he shot just 33% from the field and 18.2% from 3-point range. He again mostly dealt with 7-foot-1 Chet Holmgren, 7-footer Isaiah Hartenstein and the rugged, energetic Jaylin Williams.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, and the Thunder beat the Nuggets, 112-105, on Tuesday night to go up 3-2 in their Western Conference semifinal series. Oklahoma City overcame a 44-point, 15-rebound night from Denver’s Nikola Jokic. The Thunder can clinch the series on Thursday in Denver.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander anotó 31 puntos, y el Thunder de Oklahoma City venció el martes 112-105 a los Nuggets de Denver para ponerse arriba 3-2