The Oklahoma City Thunder opened up the season on Tuesday with a 116-104 victory on the road against the San Antonio Spurs. Now the Thunder get to play in front of the home crowd as they host the Denver Nuggets.
Tag: Nikola Jokic
Thunder Against the Spread | OKC Heavily Favored in Home Opener Against Denver
Even though OKC could easily turn this one into a blowout, I think Nikola Jokic is good enough to keep a game close. I like the Thunder to win, but I’m taking Denver to cover the spread.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC Heavily Favored in Home Opener Against Denver
Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #81 Preview: Denver Nuggets
The Oklahoma City Thunder locked up the 1-seed in the Western Conference with a 128-110 over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. With the best record in the league, OKC will have homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. The regular season isn’t quite over, though, as they wrap up a 3-game road trip with the regular season road finale in Denver against the Nuggets on Friday night.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #81 Preview: Denver Nuggets
Thunder Against the Spread | Shorthanded OKC Takes on Nuggets in Denver as Heavy Underdog
OKC enters this one with just a handful of available players, but fans shouldn’t worry. With the 1-seed locked up, most of the Thunder’s key players are sitting out for rest. As a result, OKC is a double-digit underdog, and while Denver should be able to win this one easily, I wouldn’t count the Thunder out from at least making it a game. As a result, I’m taking OKC to cover the spread, even if it’s just barely.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | Shorthanded OKC Takes on Nuggets in Denver as Heavy Underdog
Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #66 Preview: Denver Nuggets
It’s been just a little over a week since Luguentz Dort tripped Nikola Jokic, and all hell nearly broke loose as the Oklahoma City Thunder held on to defeat the Denver Nuggets 127-101 in overtime. These two teams are extremely familiar with one another at this point, and the bad blood that exists is enough to fuel any basketball fan’s desire for fireworks. On Monday night, they do battle once again in Oklahoma City.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #66 Preview: Denver Nuggets
Thunder Against the Spread | Thunder Favored Against Nuggets At Home as Ajay Mitchell Returns
OKC is still nearly as healthy as we would like them to be, and that obviously makes this game a lot more interesting. Chet Holmgren is questionable with the flu, but I’m guessing he will play. As for Denver, they have pretty much everybody available, and even though Jamal Murray is questionable with a sprained ankle, I also think he’ll end up playing. When these two teams met a little over a week ago, the Thunder narrowly won in overtime, and I expect a similarly close game tonight. These two teams are very familiar with each other at this point, and Ajay Mitchell is back, which gives OKC another playmaker on the floor when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander subs out. I’ve got the Thunder winning at home, but expect another clutch-time finish.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | Thunder Favored Against Nuggets At Home as Ajay Mitchell Returns
Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #61 Preview: Denver Nuggets
The Oklahoma City Thunder returns home on Friday night after a quick back-to-back up North, and they will be hosting Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. After a handful of players sat out on Wednesday against the Detroit Pistons, OKC continues to get near full strength as many return, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has missed the last 9 games with an abdominal strain.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #61 Preview: Denver Nuggets
Thunder Against the Spread | OKC Hosts Nuggets as Heavy Favorite with SGA’s Return
The return of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is pretty big for the Thunder right now, considering their lead in the Western Conference standings is just 1.5 games ahead of the San Antonio Spurs. After being an underdog for three consecutive games, this point spread feels like a massive swing considering the opponent, but that goes to show just how highly Vegas thinks of a near-healthy Thunder squad. I like OKC to cover because SGA is the only guy (that isn’t still out) that has missed more than a game or two, and he’s not one to ever really struggle with rust. Add to it that Denver has its share of bumps and bruises, and the Thunder should get a nice, convincing win.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC Hosts Nuggets as Heavy Favorite with SGA’s Return
Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #50 Preview: Denver Nuggets
The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets meet on Sunday night for the first time since OKC defeated Denver in 7 games last season’s Western Conference Semifinals. Isaiah Hartenstein should be back in the starting lineup for the Thunder, and Nikola Jokic made his return to the Nuggets a couple of days ago, just in time for the top two teams in the West to do battle.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #50 Preview: Denver Nuggets
Thunder Against the Spread | OKC Given Edge over Nuggets Ahead of Matchup in Denver
I managed to lock in the line at OKC -4.5, which I was much more comfortable with than the current -7.5. OKC is still missing some key pieces, but the Nuggets are also lacking in several areas. Nikola Jokic obviously does a lot for Denver, regardless of who is on the floor, but they don’t have a guy who can guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Isaiah Hartenstein should be back in the starting line-up, and Chet Holmgren will benefit from that. OKC does need to slow down Denver’s three-point shooting, but if the Thunder can do that, they could open this one up big.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC Given Edge over Nuggets Ahead of Matchup in Denver