In a surprising turn of events during Game 1 of the Western Conference playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder squandered a significant lead against the Denver Nuggets, primarily due to questionable fouling strategies. Head coach Mark Daigneault admitted to instructing his team to foul when leading by three points, a decision that ultimately led to their downfall as Denver rallied for an improbable victory.

Daigneault defended his approach by noting its past effectiveness, but he also recognized that he may have initiated the fouling too early, leaving ample time for the Nuggets to capitalize. He took full responsibility for the strategy, emphasizing that it was his directive, and expressed a commitment to learning from the experience.