With the pressure ratcheting up in the playoffs, the Thunder are trimming the minutes of some of their role players.

The Oklahoman's Berry Tramel speculates that Daequan Cook will be the first casualty, as evidenced by his failure to log any fourth-quarter minutes alongside fellow reserves James Harden, Nick Collison, Eric Maynor, and Nazr Mohammed.

While Cook is a deadeye three-point shooter, he is a subpar defender that coach Scott Brooks would understandably be reticent to deploy against the explosive J.R. Smith and Arron Afflalo, whenever he returns to the Nuggets' lineup.

Kevin Durant took the added fourth-quarter minutes in Cook's stead, and Tramel theorizes Brooks might also soon opt to replace Eric Maynor with Russell Westbrook in the final period, as well.

More of the Durant-Westbrook combo can only bode well for the Thunder: They scorched Denver for a combined 72 points in Oklahoma City's 107-103 win.

Mike Piellucci, FOXSportsSouthwest.com