Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #31 Preview: Brooklyn Nets

Zachary LowDecember 31, 2023 No Comments

The Oklahoma City Thunder remains as perhaps the hottest team in the NBA right now after a dominant 119-93 victory over the Nuggets in Denver on Friday night. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points, Chet Holmgren added 24 of his own, and Jalen Williams (11 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds) and Josh Giddey (12 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists) both had a nice all-around game.

Now the Thunder looks to wrap up 2023 with a home game against the struggling Brooklyn Nets. The Nets have won just 2 of their last 9, and both wins came against the Detroit Pistons, which isn’t saying much. A win for OKC would give the Thunder 10 wins in a calendar month for just the second time in the last 4 seasons.

The Thunder has a rich tradition of winning at home on New Year’s Eve with a record of 11-4, and two of those losses have come in the last 3 years. Tonight is a good opportunity to add another to the win column as the Brooklyn Nets are still very much trying to figure out their identity as a young squad.

Tip-Off: 6 PM CT

Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)

Television: Bally Sports Oklahoma

Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal

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

Game Notes: Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes, Brooklyn Nets Official Game Notes

Thunder Against the Spread | OKC Heavily Favored at Home For NYE Game Against Nets

Projected Starters

Thunder

  • PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
  • SG: Josh Giddey
  • SF: Luguentz Dort
  • PF: Jalen Williams
  • C: Chet Holmgren

Brooklyn Nets

  • PG: Spencer Dinwiddie
  • SG: Mikal Bridges
  • SF: Cameron Johnson
  • PF: Dorian Finney-Smith
  • C: Nic Claxton

Injury Report

Thunder

  • Ousmane Dieng is OUT (G League — on assignment).
  • Keyontae Johnson is OUT (G League — two-way).

Nets

  • Nic Claxton is PROBABLE (illness).
  • Noah Clowney is OUT (G League — on assignment).
  • Keon Johnson is OUT (G Leaguer — two-way).
  • Ben Simmons is OUT (nerve impingement in left lower back).
  • Lonnie Walker IV is OUT (strained left hamstring).
  • Dariq Whitehead is OUT (G League — on assignment).

Head-to-Head

  • Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 18-9 against the Nets (8-5 at home, 10-4 on the road).
  • Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the season series against the Nets 7 times, lost it once, and tied 7 times.
  • The Thunder went 2-0 against the Nets last season (1-0 at home, 1-0 on the road).

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