As teams near the quarter mark, the OKC Thunder and Denver Nuggets meet to play for the third time already this season.
On the cusp of Thanksgiving, the NBA has a busy slate of games on tap as all teams will have the day off Thursday.
In the two prior meetings, the OKC Thunder kept things competitive but failed to garner a victory so they’ll be aiming to change that on the home court tonight.
- Scroll down for our Thunder – Nuggets Prediction and Game Details
OKC Thunder vs Nuggets Odds, Spread, Over/Under
The latest odds have the Nuggets tagged as 2.5 point favorites with an over/under of 229 points. The money line is set at minus -125 for the Nuggets and plus +100 for the Thunder.
That might seem like a meager spread, but there are obvious factors behind the oddsmakers’ thinking. First, Denver is completing a back-to-back set having played against the Pistons on Tuesday.
Second, Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon all just returned after missing games due to health and safety protocols and a non-COVID illness in Gordon’s case.
And finally, the Nuggets-Pistons game wasn’t decided until clutch time (the Nuggets lost 108-110) which meant Jokic (37), Murray (34), and Gordon (29) all played significant minutes so will be fatigued in this back-to-back scenario.
Some other betting notables:
- The Nuggets are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games.
- The Thunder are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games.
- Denver is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games against OKC.
- The Thunder are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games when playing as the underdog.
- The Nuggets are 5-2 straight-up in their last 7 games on the road.
- The Thunder are 3-7 straight-up in their last 10 games.
- The total has gone under in 4 of Denver’s last 5 games.
- The total has gone over in 7 of OKC’s last 7 games.
- Denver is 15-3 straight-up in their last 18 games against OKC
- The total has gone over in 5 of OKC’s last 5 games at home.
- Denver is 4-1 straight-up in their last 5 games when playing on the road against OKC
- The Thunder are 1-4 straight-up in their last 5 games when playing at home against Denver.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
Thunder Injury Report
Aleksej Pokusevski (ankle) and Mike Muscala (finger) are both out Wednesday. Chet Holmgren (foot) is out for the season.
Jeff Green (knee) is listed as questionable but head coach Michael Malone said post-game he would be out for the foreseeable future.
Ish Smith (calf) and Peyton Watson (quarantine) are both questionable for Wednesday while Collin Gillespie (leg) is out indefinitely
OKC Thunder vs. Nuggets Stats Comparison and Prediction
The OKC Thunder were in both contests versus the Nuggets but came up short losing 117-122 on October 22nd and 110-122 on November 3rd.
In the two outings, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was his typically productive self offering 28 points, seven assists, three rebounds, and a steal in the first meeting. He was even more impressive in the second meeting with 37 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Josh Giddey fared better in the initial meeting with a double-double (19 points, 12 rebounds) versus 16 points and five rebounds in the second contest (plus four turnovers).
Both clubs are performing better on the offensive side of the hardwood with the Nuggets averaging 113.5 points per game (13th) versus the Thunder scoring 116.4 (6th).
Denver is incredibly efficient with the second-best field goal percentage (49.4%) and best perimeter percentage (40.3%). In comparison the Thunder rank 12th (47.0%) and 21st (34.2%).
The Nuggets made a bit of a leap defensively while Jokic and Murray were out needing to rely on stopping the ball but still have major work to do. They allow 113.6 points per game (16th), while opponents shoot 49.1% from the field (28th) and 34.8% from the perimeter (10th).
The Thunder are better at limiting opponents’ shooting ranking 18th for field goal percentage (46.7%) and 15th on the perimeter (35.8%) but need to work on lowering the overall opponent points per game as they allow 117.5 which ranks 27th.
Given the Nuggets shooting prowess it’ll be a challenge for the Thunder but with Denver having played last night, players just back from illness, and them having to travel it could be a closer battle than projected.
I’ve earmarked the Nuggets to be in the Western Conference Finals and still think they could sit atop the Conference at season end so unless Michael Malone sits Jokic and Murray I’m leaning toward this game being in favor of Denver.
Nuggets 115 – Thunder -110
What channel is the Thunder-Nuggets game on?
Per usual the game will be broadcast on Bally Sports Oklahoma or NBA League Pass. Tip-Off is set for 8:00 p.m. EST (7:00 CT) from the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
OKC Thunder vs. Nuggets Live Stream
If you need a live stream of the event, check out FuboTV for a free trial!
Thunder Next Game and Schedule
The OKC Thunder have four matches on the itinerary this week with the Bulls in town on Friday and finishing off in Houston versus the Rockets on Saturday.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.