Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Game 5 Prediction, NBA Playoff Odds
In this series’ latest unpredictable turn, the Thunder grinded out a 92-87 win in Game 4 after a fourth-quarter comeback. Denver squandered a glorious opportunity to take a 3-1 series lead, and instead it’s all even in this back-and-forth Western semi-final.
Game 4 finished nearly 50 points under the total which speaks volumes to the Thunder still finding a way to pull out a win. In OKC’s two wins this series, they have scored 149 points and 92 points. The Thunder have not won a game when scoring under 100 points since November 15.
The lack of scoring in Game 4 hasn’t messed with Tuesday night’s total though as NBA oddsmakers have the over-under for Game 5 at 220.5. The Thunder are -10.5 on the point spread, and a -475 moneyline favourite on the NBA odds. Tip-off at Paycom Center goes at 9:30 p.m. EDT.
Nuggets vs. Thunder NBA Betting Odds
Game 4’s 179 points seemingly came out of nowhere. Even after this super low-scoring contest, the Thunder remain with an average of 118 points per game. Denver is at 107 points per game. The over hit in both of the two games OKC has hosted in this series, with the winning team reaching at least 120 points. Eight of Denver’s last 11 road games overall have finished over the total.
The Nuggets are now 3-1 against the spread this season and enter Game 5 as a double-digit underdog yet again. Denver is now +450 to win the series, with Thunder in six listed as the most likely series outcome at -115 odds. The Nuggets have been the underdog in nine of their last 10 games now.
Denver Nuggets
If there’s anything Denver can point to as to how they gave away a potential 3-1 series lead, it was their shooting from the three-point arc in Game 4. The Nuggets missed 34 threes in the 92-87 loss, which was part of a 31.3 per cent shooting day from the field overall. Denver scored just eight points in the opening quarter too but ironically ended up giving away a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter.
The Nuggets rely on Nikola Jokic being a stat-sheet stuffer, but also a balanced attack from their starting five. And when that unit isn’t shooting the ball well, the pressure moves to a thin Denver bench. Russell Westbrook is nearly all of Denver’s offence off the bench and he struggled in Game 4, going two for 12 from the field. The Nuggets had just eight bench points in Game 4 — something that must change if they’re to pull off this series upset.
Oklahoma City Thunder
For a team loaded with blossoming stars, the Thunder had some clutch performances via their bench to curate a massive comeback in Game 4. Carson Wallace and Aaron Wiggins both delivered clutch threes in the fourth quarter of Game 4 as they finished tied for second in scoring on the team with 11 points each. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 25 points in the win but shot zero for five from deep. SGA has made only four threes this series and has been very pedestrian on offence outside of a 11-for-13 performance in the Game 2 blowout win.
A lack of experience/an ability to deliver in key moments has been a valid critique of OKC, but Game 5 is the perfect opportunity to change that narrative. The pressure is on for the likes of Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams to deliver in this key moment.
DEN
OKC