Not even an astounding performance from Nikola Jokić was enough to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.

Denver led by eight points heading into the fourth quarter before dropping the final period by 15 points and losing at a critical pivot point in the series. Jokic finished the night with 44 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and two steals in 44 minutes of action.

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.

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Denver was last in the league in 3-point attempts per game during the regular season (31.9), but that number has jumped to 38.5 3PA in the four contests against OKC. In their first-round series versus the LA Clippers, the Nuggets fired up an average of just 29.0 3PA across seven games.

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.