Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 6th 2024

Preview and Prediction

Last season, Oklahoma City made history by becoming the youngest team to secure a No. 1 seed. This year, they have their sights set on becoming the second youngest team to achieve this feat.

The Thunder have been on a roll, winning their first seven games by double digits. They will look to extend their winning streak to eight when they face the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.

This will be the second time in less than two weeks that these two teams meet in Denver. In their previous matchup, the Thunder dominated with a 102-87 victory. Despite their impressive start, the Thunder are not getting complacent.

Center Chet Holmgren stated, "I don't think any team has ever hung a banner for a six-game win streak. We don't take wins for granted in this league and know how hard work it takes to get something like that. But we have bigger goals that we're working toward."

One of the key factors in the Thunder's success has been their depth. Ten players are averaging 13 or more minutes per game, with no one playing more than 32 minutes per night. This balanced approach bodes well for the team's chances of sustained success, especially after being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs last season.

Despite their impressive record, leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is not satisfied. He is averaging 25.7 points per game and stated, "We're not even close to where we need to be to accomplish what we want to accomplish. It's cool. But not satisfied at all."

On the other hand, the Nuggets do not have the same depth as the Thunder and there are concerns about their ability to maintain their performance throughout the season. This was evident in their Game 7 loss at home against Minnesota in the playoffs last season, and their lack of a reliable bench has been a recurring issue.

While the Nuggets have managed to recover from an 0-2 start and win four of their last five games, they will be without two starters. Jamal Murray has been in concussion protocol and Aaron Gordon left Monday's game with a right calf strain. It was later reported that Gordon will miss "multiple weeks" with the injury.

Nuggets coach Michael Malone expressed his concern, stating, "Honestly, I was a little surprised he played last game. The schedule has not been overly kind to us early. I think he's dealing with just bumps and bruises."

Without Gordon and Murray, the Nuggets' bench will be further strained. Veteran Russell Westbrook has been starting at point guard in place of Murray, and Peyton Watson is expected to start at power forward in Gordon's absence.

Despite these challenges, Nikola Jokic has been a standout player for the Nuggets. He is currently averaging a triple-double through seven games - 29.6 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 10.3 assists. Jokic is ranked fifth in the league in scoring, third in rebounds, and second in assists.

Jokic's all-around game has also had a positive impact on the younger players on the team. He stated, "I really actually do enjoy playing with them just to see how they're going to react and what they're going to do, experience-wise."

PREDICTION

Oklahoma City Thunder

116

109

Denver Nuggets

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets Recap OCT 24TH 2024