In a thrilling Game 1 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's late-game free throws shifted the momentum, giving the Thunder a 117-114 lead. Coach Mark Daigneault opted for a controversial strategy, choosing to foul with less than 15 seconds left, instead of allowing a potentially wild 3-point attempt from a Nuggets team that thrives on their low shooting volume. However, this decision led to a chaotic final sequence where the Nuggets capitalized on missed opportunities by the Thunder, culminating in Aaron Gordon's game-winning 3-pointer with just 2.8 seconds remaining.

Daigneault's philosophy of fouling when up by three points has been a hallmark of the Thunder's strategy, but the execution faltered here. The Nuggets, forced to adapt quickly, took advantage of missed free throws by both teams. Gilgeous-Alexander's contributions were overshadowed by the perception that Daigneault's rigid adherence to a strategy resulted in a loss of control over the game's final moments, highlighting the importance of adaptability in coaching during critical scenarios.