Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the youthful Oklahoma Thunder are on the verge of making the franchise’s first appearance in the Western Conference finals since 2016.

After dropping back-to-back games against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals, the Denver Nuggets are on the brink of elimination with a 3-2 series deficit.

The Oklahoma City Thunder took a 3-2 series lead over the Denver Nuggets with a thrilling 112-105 win in Game 5 of their second-round NBA playoff series on Tuesday night. It's the first lead in the series for the Thunder, the West's No. 1 seed who now will have the chance to win the series in Game 6 in Denver on Thursday night.

Sometimes, NBA playoff series bring the best out of role players. It's all matchup-dependent. Against the Nuggets, Williams has been a perfect backup center who ensures the Thunder will have at least one center on the floor at all times while their three-headed monster alternates.

The Denver Nuggets were never likely to win their second-round series with the Oklahoma City Thunder. That was true before it started, and it's certainly true now. Following OKC's 112-105 win on Tuesday,

The Nuggets are on the brink of elimination after a 12-point lead in the second half disappeared in Oklahoma City.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets will meet for Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals tonight.

The most competitive of the four ongoing conference semifinals heats up on Tuesday night, as the Denver Nuggets (4) visit the Oklahoma City Thunder (1) in a pivotal Game 5 of a matchup that is tied at 2-2 through four games.