The Thunder squandered a big lead against the Nuggets in the first game of the Western Conference and some of their decisions to foul were a factor.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did two things when he sank two free throws with 13.2 seconds remaining in Game 1 between his Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets. First, and most importantly in the moment,

For the Thunder, it was to foul up three and never give the Nuggets a chance at a decent look from the outside. For the Nuggets, it was to breathe in some final hopes to snatch Game 1. Chet Holmgren blinked first in the game of chicken.