Thunder Vs. Nuggets Final Score: Denver Staves Off Elimination In 104-101 Victory

The Denver Nuggets had to sweat it out during the final minutes of Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but they pulled off a 104-101 victory. Danilo Gallinari played a huge role in this win, scoring all 18 points in the second half of the game. He pulled down six rebounds and dished out four assists.

Ty Lawson was also instrumental with his 24 points. He came up big at the free throw line, making all nine of his attempts. The team sank 70.5 percent of their total attempts at the charity line. Raymond Felton shot just 20 percent from the field, but he made 6-of-9 free throws, making four during the final minute of the game.

Kenyon Martin and Nene each fell a rebound short of a double-double to go with the 13 points and 10 points, respectively. Still coming back from injury, Arron Afflalo played just 19 minutes, but J.R. Smith helped with 15 points off the bench.

Despite the win, the Nuggets still haven't been able to stop Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. They scored 31 and 30 points, respectively. Serge Ibaka had another double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.

The Nuggets had a six-point lead at the end of the first quarter, but were tied at 45 during halftime. But once Smith nailed a three with 35 seconds left in the third quarter, the Nuggets never trailed again in the game.

The series will now shift back to Oklahoma City for Game 5 on Wednesday, April 27.

For more on the Thunder, visit Welcome To Loud City. For more on the Nuggets, visit Denver Stiffs.

Thunder Vs. Nuggets Score: Denver, OKC Enter Halftime Tied At 45

What was a six-point Nuggets lead to start the second quarter turned into a tied game at 45. And that required Ty Lawson to make three free throws in the final seconds to even the score. Lawson made two free throws after James Harden fouled him, but then Kendrick Perkins shouldered his way into Chris Andersen to draw a technical foul, sending Lawson to the line again.

Lawson picked things up in the second quarter to finish the half with 14 points, while Kenyon Martin contributed 11 points and six rebounds. But he had just two points and one rebound in the second quarter. Adding just 19 points in the second quarter, the Nuggets will need to regroup in the second half.

The Thunder regained their dominance around the boards, taking a 26-22 lead. Serge Ibaka leads the way with seven, while the bench added 10. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have yet to find the scoring touch they had in the previous games, combining for just 19 points.

For more on the Thunder, visit Welcome To Loud City. For more on the Nuggets, visit Denver Stiffs.

Thunder Vs. Nuggets Score: Denver Holds Early Six-Point Lead

The Denver Nuggets are definitely out there playing as though they want a Game 5, a Game 6 and a Game 7. They lead the Oklahoma City Thunder, 26-20, after the first quarter.

Kenyon Martin leads the Nuggets in points (9) and rebounds (5). He's made four of five shots. Arron Afflalo is also off to a strong start, scoring six points in a team-high 10 minutes. They are shooting 52.4 percent from the field, while the Thunder are connecting on just 33.3 percent of their shots.

For the Thunder, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook continue to provide the scoring edge. They have 15 points already. Serge Ibaka leads the team with three rebounds, but in a turnaround from previous games, the Nuggets hold a 14-10 edge in that category. Eric Maynor appeared to have a three-point shot go in from the other end of the court at the buzzer, but replay showed that the red lights were already on.

For more on the Thunder, visit Welcome To Loud City. For more on the Nuggets, visit Denver Stiffs.

Thunder Vs. Nuggets Tickets Cheapest Among Monday Games

Thunder Vs. Nuggets: Elimination Game In Denver

Should the Denver Nuggets lose to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday they will be eliminated from the 2011 NBA Playoffs and end one of the most talked about seasons in franchise history. Down 3-0, the Nuggets need some home cooking in order to keep their season alive and head back to OKC for Game 5.

But if they continue to play like they have in the first three games of the series - sloppy and out of control - then a season in which the Nuggets stole the NBA headlines with the blockbuster trade that brought Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari and Timofey Mozgov from New York in exchange essentially for Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups will be finished and Denver can return to their well earned place as an NBA afterthought.

The interesting point about that trade, from a playoff perspective, is that after the New York Knicks were swept out of the playoffs by the Boston Celtics last night, neither team involved in the most publicized mid-season trade in years has won a game in these playoffs. Both sides were said to have improved, with the Knicks getting a superstar and veteran point guard, while Denver became one of the deepest teams in the league, but what this has shown everyone is that you can't piecemeal an NBA franchise together in February and expect results in April. Instead, what all teams need is to gel in training camp and build camaraderie  throughout a season before trying to win in the playoffs.

And the Thunder are proving that. They have the talent, in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, and by teaming up for three seasons, they know each other's games inside and out and can rely on the other to help out in a pinch and know where they'll be on the floor at all times.

This will come to the Nuggets, but unfortunately it doesn't appear to be this year. And not to sound too much like a Cubs fan, but with more time playing together, next year should be better than this one.

Monday's game tips at 8:30 p.m. MDT and can be seen live at the Pepsi Center or on TNT.