OKC Thunder | Game #34 Preview: Nuggets

Tip-Off: 7 PM CT

Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)

Television: Fox Sports Oklahoma

Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal

Twitter: Follow @ZacharyLowNBA for live-tweets and discussion during the game

The Oklahoma City Thunder is streaking—at least by their standards—after defeating the Atlanta Hawks 118-109 last night for a second straight win at home. OKC’s longest winning streak of the season is just 3, and they have a chance to match that tonight as they host division foe the Denver Nuggets.

The Nuggets have had the OKC’s number so far this season, defeating the Thunder twice in matchups played in Denver, but now the Thunder gets a chance to play them in the 405.

The Thunder has weathered a pretty tough stretch of basketball, and they’re sitting at a reasonable 14-19 record, good for 12th in the Western Conference standings. The Nuggets have struggled on their way to a 17-15 record, and after finishing last season as the Western Conference runner up, they sit at 8th in the West now.

A number of key matchups tonight will define the outcome of the game as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander goes up against Jamal Murray in the backcourt while Al Horford tries to contain Nikola Jokic in the paint. This should be a fun one.

Projected Starters

Thunder

  • PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
  • SG: Théo Maledon
  • SF: Luguentz Dort
  • PF: Darius Bazley
  • C: Al Horford

Nuggets

  • PG: Jamal Murray
  • SG: Monte Morris
  • SF: Will Barton
  • PF: Michael Porter Jr.
  • C: Nikola Jokic

Injuries

Thunder

  • Trevor Ariza is OUT (not with team).
  • Moses Brown is OUT (G League; two-way).
  • Hamidou Diallos is OUT (sore right groin).
  • Josh Hall is OUT (G League; two-way).
  • George Hill is OUT (right thumb surgery).
  • Darius Miller is OUT (stomach illness).
  • Aleksej Pokusevski is OUT (G League; on assignment).

Nuggets

  • PJ Dozier is QUESTIONABLE (strained right hamstring).
  • JaMychal Green is OUT (sprained left shoulder).
  • Gary Harris is OUT (strained left adductor).
  • Paul Millsap is OUT (sprained left knee).

Head-to-Head

  • Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 22-26 against the Nuggets (15-10 at home, 7-16 on the road).
  • Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the season series with the Nuggets 6 times and lost it 6 times.
  • The Thunder went 1-2 (1-1 at home, 0-1 on the road) against the Nuggets last season.
  • The Thunder has lost 11 of the last 13 matchups against the Nuggets.
  • The Thunder is 0-2 (0-0 at home, 0-2 on the road) against the Nuggets so far this season.

Game Notes

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