Game preview: OKC Thunder won’t be joking around as they seek to take down Nikola’s Nuggets

Projected Line-ups

OKC Thunder Starters:

Point Guard: Russell Westbrook
Shooting Guard: Terrance Ferguson
Small Forward: Paul George
Power Forward: Jerami Grant
Center: Steven Adams

OKC Thunder Bench:

Point Guard: Dennis Schroder, Raymond Felton
Shooting Guard: Alex Abrines, Hamidou Diallo Deonte Burton
Small Forward: Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Abdel Nader
Power Forward: Patrick Patterson
Center: Nerlens Noel

Injury Notes:

Andre Roberson: remains out recovering from an avulsion fracture. Expected to return sometime in the New Year.

Nuggets Starters:

Point Guard: *Jamal Murray
Shooting Guard: Torrey Craig
Small Forward: Juancho Hernangomez
Power Forward: Mason Plumlee
Center: Nikola Jokic

Nuggets Reserves:

Point Guard: Monte Morris, DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell
Shooting Guard: Malik Beasley, Tyler Lydon. Nick Young
Small Forward:
Power Forward: Trey Lyles
Center: Thomas Welsh

Injury Notes:

More from Thunderous Intentions

*Jamal Murray shin contusion hasn’t kept him out of action and with so many players out he’ll likely play tonight. For those wondering, the Canadian played through a sports hernia the entirety of his rookie season which speaks to his pain threshold.

Isaiah Thomas underwent right hip surgery and continues to rehab with an anticipated return date of late December.

Will Barton had surgery on his hip and is expected out until late December.

Gary Harris is expected to miss up to a month due to a right hip strain.

After fracturing his big toe Paul Millsap is expected to miss between four-to-six weeks which will keep him out until late January.

Jarred Vanderbilt remains out following foot surgery with no timetable for return.

Rookie Michael Porter Jr. had surgery to repair a herniated disc and is rehabbing from the procedure. His return date is unknown, but given it is his second back procedure the Nuggets will exercise caution.

Game Specifics

Recent History:

OKC Thunder holds the all-time record having bested the Nuggets in 21 of their 40 matches. Last season the Nuggets won the regular season series three games to one and took the initial contest this year.

Fan Data:

Venue: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Tip off: 9:00 PM CST (10:00 EST)
TV: ESPN, Fox Sports Oklahoma
Radio: Oklahoma City – WWLS 98.1FM OKC / 930AM (ESP) and League Pass Audio

The Odds:

Given the slew of Denver injuries the oddsmakers favor the Thunder by two points and predict an over-under of 217points.

Join Thunderous Intentions following the game for the post game grades and Topic: Thunder podcast crew as they analyze the night’s action. Let’s go Thunder!