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Soon, the game entered the second half, and the Nuggets launched another familiar counterattack.

They suddenly went on another tear, all within five minutes.

Murray went 3-for-3 and scored seven straight points, while Pope also found his touch, going 2-for-2 from beyond the arc.

The two players combined to score 13 straight points from outside, at one point cutting the deficit to fewer than 15.

But this time, the Thunder didn't give the Nuggets another chance.

At this crucial point in the game, Chen Xi and AD stepped up again without hesitation. They connected through their Pick-and-Roll and put together a scoring run of their own.

Chen went 3-for-4 and scored eight points, while Davis repeatedly drew shooting fouls from Jokic and Gordon under the basket—one apiece—and made all four free throws.

The two combined for 12 points late in the Third Quarter, restoring the Thunder's lead and putting out the Nuggets' rally before it could catch fire.

That left no suspense in the Fourth Quarter Game.

With seven minutes left, Mike Malone saw that his team couldn't close the gap. He decisively pulled his starters, conceding the game, saving their energy, and calling off the fight.

When the game finally ended, the Thunder had won this crucial, do-or-die Game 5, 129–106.

Chen Xi played 39 minutes, shooting 16-for-23 from the field, 5-for-9 from three, and 9-for-10 from the line. He erupted for 46 points, seven rebounds, nine assists, two steals, and one block, with no turnovers, leading his team to a 3–2 series lead.

Meanwhile, Chen Xi's best support, Anthony Davis, finished with 28 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, helping Chen keep the team's foundation steady.

Westbrook, meanwhile, had only a few standout moments in the first quarter and finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, and