OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Denver 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 and the youthful Oklahoma Thunder are on the verge of making the franchise’s first appearance in the Western Conference finals since 2016.

Sometimes, NBA playoff series bring the best out of role players. It's all matchup-dependent. Against the Nuggets, Williams has been a perfect backup center who ensures the Thunder will have at least one center on the floor at all times while their three-headed monster alternates.

NBA playoffs picks, predictions, odds, TV channel, how to watch, stream Oklahoma City Thunder vs Denver Nuggets NBA playoff game on May 13.

Denver can swing a trade similar to last year's between the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves, in which San Antonio sent the No. 8 pick to Minnesota for a lightly protected first-round swap six years down the road and an unprotected swap in seven.

Oklahoma City had its back against the wall on Sunday afternoon, but managed to come away with a win after a solid showing down the stretch.

El Thunder de Oklahoma City venció a los Nuggets de Denver en su propio juego el domingo. El equipo más joven de la NBA hizo todas las jugadas decisivas en los