Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction, NBA Odds
Oklahoma City will look to continue its strong recent run at home tonight against the Denver Nuggets at 7:30 PM ET.
The Thunder have won five straight and eight of nine overall. If the San Antonio Spurs weren’t even hotter lately, OKC might already have sewn up the Western Conference.
They took another step in that direction on Saturday, knocking off the Golden State Warriors 104-97. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 27 points to lead the way. He only shot 40% (6-for-15) from the field, but went 14-for-15 from the foul line.
It was the 120th straight game of 20 points or more for SGA. He is now one game away from tying the great Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time record. Who he’ll have on the floor with him tonight against Denver is the bigger question.
Nuggets vs. Thunder NBA Betting Odds
OKC enters this one as a seven-point favourite over Denver. Although the Thunder have won five straight, they are 0-5 against the spread in those games. And although they have won five of the last seven meetings with the Nuggets, OKC is just 2-5 ATS in those games.
Denver is just 16-18 straight up against teams over .500 this season. The Nuggets have played to the over in five consecutive road games and five of six against OKC.
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets were dealt two major blows on Friday. First, they were embarrassed by the New York Knicks, 142-103, despite Nikola Jokic’s 38 points and eight rebounds.
Second, Denver lost Jamal Murray to a sprained ankle with 1:05 left in the first half. Murray, who had scored 73 points in wins over Utah and the Lakers earlier in the week, had 12 points when he left the game on Saturday.
Murray had 39 points the last time these teams met. OKC won that game, 127-121, in overtime. The first-time All-Star is questionable for this evening’s game.
On the bright side, Aaron Gordon played in his first game in seven weeks, and Cam Johnson returned from his own sprained ankle.
Oklahoma City Thunder
It’s no coincidence the Thunder regained their mojo as soon as SGA returned to the lineup. OKC is 5-0 since he came back from an abdominal strain. He’s only played in four of those games as OKC kept him out of a 116-108 victory over Chicago as a precaution.
He’s averaging 29.8 points since his return, just shy of his 31.6 points per game season average, which is second in the league. That includes a 36-point, nine-assist performance against the Nuggets in that overtime win in his first game back.
The Thunder have a host of maybes for tonight. Alex Caruso, Chet Holmgren, and Isaiah Harteinstein all sat out the Warriors game. Any or all of them could play tonight.
NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Nuggets vs. Thunder?
Oklahoma City has bested the Nuggets at home and on the road. It took them overtime to win the last time these teams played at the Paycom Center, but OKC is now a league-best 26-6 at home.
Denver should be able to push the Thunder throughout, but look for SGA and company to win the third straight game against their Northwest Division rivals, 122-115.
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OKC