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

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.

David Adelman admirably shouldered the blame for the Nuggets running out of steam in Game 5 vs. the Thunder.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied from a double-digit deficit in the second half to beat the Denver Nuggets 112-105 and go up 3-2 in their Western Conference semifinal series.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, and the Thunder beat the Nuggets, 112-105, on Tuesday night to go up 3-2 in their Western Conference semifinal series. Oklahoma City overcame a 44-point, 15-rebound night from Denver’s Nikola Jokic. The Thunder can clinch the series on Thursday in Denver.

One anonymous teammate recently accused Denver Nuggets backup point guard Russell Westbrook of being "immature."

Nikola has shot just 33.3 percent from the field and 18.2 percent from three-point range in his last three games played.

Speaking on "Inside the NBA" on Sunday night, Hall of Famer Charles Barkley spoke about Jokic's sagging performance--and blamed the Nuggets for using a short rotation and having no true backup big man.