First meeting between OKC Thunder – Nuggets: preview

Injuries and projected starting lineups:

Nuggets projected starting lineup:

Of note, Gordon is listed as questionable and if he can’t go Zeke Nnaji will be the likely replacement.

• Point Guard: Monte Morris
• Shooting guard: Will Barton
• Small forward: Aaron Gordon
• Power forward: Jeff Green
• Center: Nikola Jokic

Nuggets injuries:

• Bol Bol (health and safety protocols)
• Michael Porter Jr (health and safety protocols) also had back surgery – likely out for season
• Aaron Gordon (hamstring) is questionable
• JaMychal Green (ankle) is questionable
• Markus Howard (sprained knee) will be re-evaluated in six weeks.
• Jamal Murray continues to rehab from a torn ACL, team hopes for a February return
• PJ Dozier suffered a torn ACL which rules him out for the season.

OKC Thunder injuries:

• Tre Mann (toe) is questionable
• Mike Muscala will sit this game for rest (an odd choice given he’s one of the bigs who would be tasked to limit Jokic).

History:

It’s the first meeting of this campaign of four that take place. All-time the Thunder possess the advantage having won 99 of the 187 meetings.

In 2020-21 the teams played three times with Denver sweeping the regular season series.

The OKC Thunder will host the Nuggets again on January 9th while the two games in Denver will occur on March 2nd, and March 26th.

Game Specifics:

Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Tip-off: Wednesday, December 22nd, at 7:00 p.m. Central Time (8:00 p.m. EST)

Where to watch: Bally Sports Oklahoma or NBA League Pass

Radio: WWLS 98.1 FM