Monson: The Jazz help resuscitate the Thunder, as they choke themselves

There were two divergent ways Wednesday night’s Game 5 could have gone for the Thunder against the Jazz.

The first, they could pack it in, realizing they were slamming their individual heads against the wall, none of them coordinated to the level necessary for sustained success. Not when playing a connected opponent that gets its kicks from sharing the ball and playing synchronized defense.

The second, they could pump enough pride and dignity and energy and focus and talent into a last-ditch effort on their home court in front of their own fans to shove away elimination, keeping a series alive that was all but expired.

They chose what was behind Door No. 2.

The numbers on the board proved the point: Thunder 107, Jazz 99.

And the way they did it was impressive, coming back from a 25-point deficit in the third quarter. The Jazz? Truth is, they were pathetic, falling apart in a monumental way down the stretch.

In the words of Miracle Max, turns out, the Thunder are not dead, yet.

And the Jazz helped resuscitate the dying, as they choked themselves.

The Thunder breathed deep enough to win one more game in this first-round playoff affair, narrowing the Jazz’s lead to 3-2, heading to Salt Lake for Friday night’s Game 6. The way the Jazz blew this game could have for them a dangerous lingering effect. You’d think they were playing the Atlanta Hawks or something.

OKC did its part the only way it knows, by letting its two major stars — Russell Westbrook (45 points) and Paul George (34 points) — go off. The Jazz haplessly attempted to slow them over the final 20 minutes, but they could not manage it.

Westbrook was much more effective getting to the rim despite the presence of Rudy Gobert and pulling up for an assortment of comfortable shots from distance. George did his thing, too.

And at the defensive end, a strange thing happened to the Thunder: In that second half, they stopped being offended by — and started respecting — guys like Joe Ingles and Derrick Favors and Royce O’Neale and Jae Crowder by eventually getting around to … you know, covering them. And the Jazz obliged by playing sloppy with 17 turnovers and 40 percent shooting.

For too much of this series, OKC’s stars couldn’t get past themselves, couldn’t deign to such menial tasks. This time, they did and they took victory as a reward.

It set the stage for a partial switch in roles for each team.

All series long, the pressure has been weighing on the Thunder, the team with those established stars, the guys who already had built their names and been spackled together in OKC to see if they could blend their games enough to make an impact in a single season. If they could, then maybe George, who had bailed on Indiana and been reeled in by the Thunder, would stick around in free agency. Winning might turn the trick, the Thunder hoped. Westbrook hoped. All of Oklahoma hoped.

If not, the Lakers or Sixers awaited.

Now, the Jazz are the ones feeling the urgent press, having used up their mulligan here in an ugly way. While they retain an edge, they now face a significant tee-shot at Vivint Arena on Friday, needing to split the fairway to avoid a return trip for Game 7 at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

They must hit it pure — unlike their shanks on this night.

The rugged resistance the Jazz previously had mounted was nowhere near as effective when it was needed most. Again and again, Westbrook found those spots he could exploit with his athleticism and touch, getting the shots he all along had claimed he could get. Finally, he got them.

The physicality that reached comedic heights in the last game did not subside. Egged on by their raucous fans, the Thunder amped up the intensity they attempted to make useful in Game 4. They amped up themselves.

Ultimately, the Jazz couldn’t keep up. They wilted big and then timidly fought back. Sort of.

They could not hold it together enough to match OKC when it counted.

With that, emboldened talent beat sputtering teamwork.

And, on account of that, the disintegration and dissipation of the Thunder in the wake of defeat will have to wait a while longer. They are not dead, yet. Not dead dead.

Hold off on the requiem, then, until — and if — they ever are.

GORDON MONSON hosts “The Big Show” weekdays from 3-7 p.m. on 97.5 FM and 1280 AM The Zone.