OKC breaks NBA record in win

The home team can win a game in the NBA’s conference semifinals.

The Oklahoma City Thunder restored normalcy – at least for four quarters – to a strange, exciting and unpredictable playoff season.

The Thunder became the first home team in seven games to win in the second round of the playoffs this season, defeating Denver 149-106 in Game 2 Wednesday and tying the series at 1-1 with a record-setting offensive performance.

With all the comebacks happening in the playoffs, few leads are safe. Up 78-43 late in the second quarter and 124-76 after three quarters, Oklahoma City had a lead that was insurmountable.

It was a great response from the Thunder, who squandered an 11-point lead in the final 4:31 of Denver’s Game 1 victory.

Game 3 is Friday in Denver (10 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Nuggets-Thunder Game 2 winners

Thunder offense

The Thunder scored 87 points – IN THE FIRST HALF! That set an NBA record for most points in the first half of a playoff game, surpassing the 86 points Cleveland scored against Golden State in the 2017 Finals. It also equals the most points in any half of a playoff game, matching the 87 points Milwaukee scored against Denver on April 23, 1978.

Oklahoma City shot 58.8% from the field (30-for-51), 43.5% on 3-pointers (10-for-23) and 94.4% on free throws (17-for-18) in the first two quarters.

In the first half, the Thunder led by as many as 35 points – 84-49 with 1:32 left in the second quarter – and took an 87-56 lead into halftime.

The Thunder were eight points away from tying the record for most points scored in a playoff game (157, set by Boston against New York on April 28, 1990). Their 149 points were a franchise playoff record.

Oklahoma City’s depth

Ten Thunder players scored in the first half, including six players in double figures, and by game’s end, 14 Thunder players had scored, and the five starters reached at least 12 points, led by MVP finalist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s game-high 34 points and eight assists.

Jalen Williams had 17 points and seven assists, and Chet Holmgren had 15 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals.

Thunder’s defense on Nikola Jokic

Denver MVP finalist Nikola Jokic, a three-time MVP, had just 17 points (6-for-16 shooting), eight rebounds and six assists – not even close to the 42-point, 22-rebound, six-assist, two-block performance he had in Game 1.

Oklahoma City, which had the best defense in the league this season, made sure Jokic didn’t control and/or take over the game like he’s capable of doing. A concerted, physical effort from the Thunder was the difference.

Nuggets-Thunder Game 2 losers

Denver’s defense

The Nuggets allowed a playoff-record 87 points in the first half, were outscored 52-28 in points in the paint, outscored 26-5 in fastbreak points and gave up nine dunks.

It was just way too easy for the Thunder, who had the No. 3 offense in the regular season, scoring 119.2 points per 100 possessions.

Michael Porter Jr.’s offense

Porter wasn’t the only Nuggets player who struggled offensively. Aaron Gordon, who made the game-winning 3 in Game 1, had just 10  points on 3-for-12 shooting. Jokic, as mentioned, didn’t dominate the way he can, and Christian Braun was 1-for-6.

But Porter, who averaged 18.2 points and 7.0 rebounds and shot 50.4% from the field and 39.5% on 3s in the regular season, had just eight points on 2-for-10 shooting in Game 2 and is now just 3-for-18 from the field in the series.

Porter is not on the injury report but he sustained a shoulder injury in the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers and his left shoulder was wrapped against the Thunder.  Playing hurt is admirable, but the Nuggets have been outscored by 40 points in Porter’s 49 minutes through two games.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.