Losing 5 points, where is the Nuggets losing in this game? The two performed poorly and were the biggest "sinners"

In the highly anticipated NBA Playoff Western Conference Semi-finals G4 on May 12, 2025, the Nuggets lost to the Thunder 87-92, and the series score was equalized to 2-2. The loss of the game forced the Nuggets to re-examine their own problems. The sluggish performance of Michael Porter and Russell Westbrook has become the key factor in the team's loss and can be called the biggest "sinner"!

Michael Porter Jr., the Nuggets' forward shooter, is in a cold form this game. He only made 1 goal in seven shots in the game, and even made 0 of 5 shots from outside the three-point line. He scored 3 points with only free throws. Although he scored 9 rebounds, his extreme offensive end was in sharp contrast to his previous efficient scoring performance. Porter was an extremely important part of the team's offensive system. With his outstanding three-point ability, he was able to open up the inside space for Jokic and create more offensive opportunities. But in this game, he received passes in open positions many times, but the three-pointers he took missed one after another, completely losing his former sight. This sluggish state not only makes the team lose a strong firepower point in offense, but also disrupts the team's overall offensive rhythm, allowing the Thunder to double-team other players more unscrupulously.

Russell Westbrook's performance was equally disappointing. He made only 2 of 12 shots in the game, 2 of 9 three-pointers, scoring only 6 points. Westbrook's ineffective offensive efficiency directly affects the team's substitute scoring ability. During the game, he won open three-pointers many times, but these should be good opportunities to chase points or expand their lead, and they were wasted one by one by one. Not only that, Westbrook has also failed to play his due role on the defensive end. The Thunder seized his weakness of slow defense and insufficient defensive awareness, attacked him many times, successfully tearing open the Nuggets' defense line, and scored wave after wave of scoring climaxes at critical moments, causing the Nuggets to lose the initiative in the game.

Apart from these two players, the Nuggets' overall bench performed poorly. In the whole game, the Nuggets scored only 8 points, while the Thunder scored 35 points. The huge gap reflects the Nuggets' substitute lineup in depth and firepower. When the starting player loses strength or gets into foul trouble, the substitute player cannot stand up to provide stable scoring and defensive support, which puts the Nuggets in a passive situation during the game.

This loss was undoubtedly a heavy blow to the Nuggets. But the series is not over yet, and they still have time to adjust and improve. Michael Porter Jr. needs to regain his feel as soon as possible, Westbrook also needs to improve his offensive efficiency and defensive intensity. At the same time, the Nuggets coaching staff also need to relocate the bench lineup to discover more available players and enhance the team's overall strength to deal with the upcoming Battle of Tianwang Mountain.