Mother’s Day Misfire: Fans Mounts Criticism as Thunder and Nuggets Set Playoff Record for Futility Following Early 2000s Slump…
Game 4 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets on Mother’s Day was a far cry from the exciting, high-scoring contests the series had previously offered. Instead, the matchup served as a flashback to the sluggish, low-scoring playoff games of the early 2000s — and not in a good way.
After thrilling fans with an overtime showdown in Game 3, both teams came out flat on Sunday. The first quarter ended with OKC leading 17-8, a score more reminiscent of a defensive battle from decades past. The Thunder hit just one three-pointer and went 6-of-22 from the field. Denver was even worse — a brutal 0-of-14 from three and 2-of-22 overall.
That disastrous start tied an NBA playoff record for the fewest combined points in a first quarter — just 25.
Offensive Struggles Across the Board
Both squads, known for their offensive firepower — including OKC’s 149-point performance in Game 2 — looked unrecognizable. Instead, the game mirrored the gritty battles between teams like the early-2000s Pistons and Spurs, known for their stifling defense and lack of flair.
Fans quickly took to social media to roast the poor shooting and lack of energy, sharing memes, GIFs, and stats to highlight just how rough the opening was.
Criticism Mounts Over Scheduling and Fatigue
Tony Jones of The Athletic criticized the NBA’s scheduling, calling it “ridiculous” and even “dangerous” to have Game 4 early Sunday after a late Friday Game 3, especially with both teams showing clear signs of fatigue.
Individually, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the lone bright spot, scoring 12 points in just 13 minutes. No other Thunder player managed more than four before halftime. On Denver’s side, Nikola Jokic had only two points, and Russell Westbrook was scoreless. The overall performance left fans at Ball Arena unimpressed and yearning for the more exciting showdowns earlier in the series.
