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The spacing adjustments of Mark Daigneault’s team paid off in Game 2. Pulling Jokic away from the rim opened driving lanes for SGA and kick-out 3-pointers. Denver tried multiple defensive coverages, including zone, where it had some success in Game 1. But the Thunder found ways to puncture it, often with smart relocation, decisive passing and deep spacing that forced Denver into difficult closeouts.

Such improved offensive performance against the zone provides the Thunder with another lever to pull from, especially if Denver leans on that defense to protect foul-prone lineups or buy rest for Jokic. The Thunder, meanwhile, haven’t been aggressive in doubling Jokic, but they’ve consistently shown early help and forced him to operate in a crowd. The goal is to shrink his vision and make him play through bodies – sometimes even before the catch.

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