OKC Thunder versus Denver Nuggets – Preview highlights adaptability

The OKC Thunder play their second ‘seeded’ game vs. the Denver Nuggets with the tiebreak and seeding on the line.

Game two of the eight seeding games is on tap for the OKC Thunder today and an important conference foe lined up. The game is set to occur at 4:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. CT) today versus the Denver Nuggets.

This match carries extra relevance since the winner will own the season tiebreak. While win percentage takes credence for breaking ties it’s only relevant if teams have played different totals of games. In the case of the group all snuggled in the three through six seeds, it’s not relevant since each of the Nuggets, Jazz, Rockets, and Thunder entered the suspension having played 64 games.

The OKC Thunder could make it a clean sweep if they win today having already secured tie breaks versus both the Rockets and Jazz.

Most teams benefited from the hiatus with numerous players getting rest or recovering from injury. The Nuggets are in the minority who did not benefit.

Star Nikola Jokic tested positive for COVID-19 and while asymptomatic it likely affected his conditioning. A further three members of their 35 member traveling party tested positive although we aren’t privy to whether that was staff members of players.

Gameday preview – OKC Thunder versus Denver Nuggets

On top of the virus issues, injuries have hit the Nuggets at the worst possible time and primarily to their guard and wing players.

Star Jamal Murray is dealing with a hamstring issue that held him out of scrimmages and the first seeding game versus the Miami Heat.

Guards Gary Harris is dealing with a strained hip muscle while Will Barton is hampered by right knee soreness. Of the trio, only Murray is a ‘possible’ to play today.