The OKC Thunder passed the pivotal test of Game 5 with flying colors. A punch-for-punch three quarters finished with the Nuggets leading by three. However, OKC picked up slack in the fourth, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge with 9 points. Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins had 6, and 3 from the bench, respectively. Denver were restricted to just 19 points, and will now head to Paycomm a defeat away from elimination.

Undoubtedly a gruelling series, OKC knows the job is not done. SGA has been their top performer, but the Thunder also have other to-be and current superstars they will be counting on. Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams are two of them, and both played big parts in Game 4. Now, the Thunder have a chance to finish things off in style, and fans will be delighted to find out that they will attempt that with all of their superstars available.

Holmgren has only recently returned from a longterm injury, while Jalen Williams has also been recovering from a wrist sprain. The 24-year-old fought through pain to return with 18 points and 9 rebounds on the night, and it was his late 3-pointer that initially earned OKC a 1-point lead in the fourth quarter.

However, according to ESPN, both Jalen Williams and Holmgren are fit, and will be suiting up for Game 5. That comes as a huge sigh of relief. And it should, considering even the Nuggets head coach lamented the toll this gruelling series has already had on their roster.

“We have to bounce back quickly to win Game 6, to give ourselves a chance to come back,” Carlisle knows what must be done. However, the Thunder are no longer an up-and-coming team, and they are once again sure to go all guns blazing. Add to that the fact that Game 5 takes place at Paycomm, and there seems to be only one way this series is headed.

How will the Thunder continue their success?

Well, the answer to that is obvious. Continue playing the same way. The OKC not only have SGA in relentless mood, they also have all the support he needs. OKC have managed to restrict Jokic’s influence by surrounding him by bodies. However, Thunder’s variety of offensive threats means that they can always find buckets.

“The answer is never a hero play or anything out of the ordinary,” SGA had said after the game “It’s trusting each other … it’s being who we are.” With that in mind, we look at what seems like a stacked Thunder starting lineup:

On the other hand, the Nuggets are not only desperate, also frail. DaRon Holmes II and Hunter Tyson are both out, and the likes of Jokic and Murray need to produce miracles to force another game. This is how they can be expected to line up:

Of course, while the series has gone a particular way, it is Denver that are the champion team. They might be on the verge of an unceremonious exit, but not one NBA enthusiast will be surprised if there is yet another turnaround. For that though, they need more than their big Serbian to lead the charge.