Date & Time: Sunday, March 9, 1:00 PM ET
Venue: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Where to watch: Stream on ABC
Our Prediction: Oklahoma City 118, Denver 112
Odds: Oklahoma City -115, Denver Nuggets +550
The top two teams in the Western Conference will collide on Sunday, March 9, in a tantalizing Northwest Division matchup at Paycom Center. The Thunder spanked the Nuggets by 15 points in their first encounter in October, but Denver regrouped two weeks later to notch a 124-122 victory.
Oklahoma City is led by point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who leads the NBA in scoring with 32.3 points. The three-time NBA All-Star ended the month of February averaging 31.7 points on 50.6 percent shooting, 6.8 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals.
Denver is paced by playmakers Nikola Jokic and Jamaal Murray. Jokic is a three-time NBA MVP who ranks third in scoring (28.9) and rebounds (12.7), and second in assists (10.4) this season. Murray is pouring in 21.4 points and six assists per game and is shooting 40.2 percent from behind the 3-point line.
The Nuggets opened the 2024-25 season with the best odds (-380) to claim the Western Conference championship, while the Thunder (+475) had the second-best odds. However, Oklahoma (-115) currently has the best odds to win the West title and is followed by Denver (+550) and the Los Angeles Lakers (+700). Bettors can find these shifting odds on popular NBA sportsbooks including FanDuel and BetMGM.
The Thunder lead the all-time series 106-95 and have won four of the past five meetings:
• 11/06/2024: Nuggets won 124-122 in Denver
• 10/24/2024: Thunder won 102-87 in Denver
• 01/31/2024: Thunder won 105-100 in Oklahoma
• 12/29/2023: Thunder won 119-93 in Denver
• 12/16/2023: Thunder won 118-117 in Denver
F Michael Porter Jr.
F Aaron Gordon
C Nikola Jokic
G Jamal Murray
G Christian Braun
The Nuggets are the league's third-highest-scoring squad with 121.1 points and are shooting 38.1 percent from behind the arc. Jokic is averaging a triple-double and ranks second with 1.8 steals, while Murray erupted for 55 points in a 132-121 win over Portland last month. The 28-year-old has scored 30-plus points in nine games thus far this season.
The Celtics targeted Murray's defense in their recent showdown, and the Nuggets' court general gladly accepted the challenge.
"For sure, 100 percent," Murray said when asked if he relishes the opportunity to defend in isolation. "It's just tough when I have four fouls, you know what I'm saying?"
Denver head coach Michael Malone also noticed Boston's strategy, which the Celtics used against Luka Doncic in last year's NBA Finals.
"I think for any player, you never want to be that guy that teams are targeting," Malone said.
Sharpshooting forward Michael Porter Jr. tied a career-high with 39 points in a 144-119 win over the New Orleans Pelicans in early February. The six-year veteran tallied 30 or more points in three straight games last month and is rocking a line of 18.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists this season.
Porter, who had been the subject of speculation ahead of this year's trade deadline, is elated to be staying in Denver after head coach Michael Malone doused rumors of Porter leaving the franchise.
"I can't control whether I get traded or not, so that was never something I was stressed about," Porter said. "But it is nice to be somewhere where you're wanted, and to know that your coach is saying that. I know things can change quick in this league, and you've got to win, and you've got to produce, but it is good to know that you're wanted somewhere."
Christian Braun posted 24 points, six rebounds, and four steals in a 110-103 loss to the Boston Celtics on March 2. The former Kansas standout is averaging 15.1 points and 5.2 rebounds this season and has tallied 20-plus points in 14 games.
Aaron Gordon and Russell Westbrook are also vital pieces to the Nuggets' championship aspirations. Gordon rolled his left ankle in a loss against the Milwaukee Bucks and departed the floor in obvious pain. The fourth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Gordon is averaging 12.9 points and 4.9 rebounds in 36 games.
Westbrook has been one of the top free-agent acquisitions this season and is averaging 12.7 points, 6.2 assists, and 5 rebounds. The veteran guard has developed impressive chemistry with Jokic and is a key reason the Nuggets are back in the hunt for a league title.
Other key players include Julian Strawther and Peyton Watson. Strawther was Denver's top pick in 2023 and is averaging 9.4 points and 2.2 boards. Watson was posting 8.1 points and 3.4 rebounds before going down with a knee injury in late January. The former UCLA standout is expected to return sometime this month.
C Chet Holmgren
F Luguentz Dort
F Jalen Williams
G Cason Wallace
G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Gilgeous-Alexander is the frontrunner to win this year's MVP award, according to BetMGM, and is averaging a whopping 31 points on 53 percent shooting over the past two seasons. The Canadian superstar scored 50 points in a 140–109 win over the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 5 to become the ninth player in NBA history to score at least 50 points three times in a seven-game span.
Although some pundits remain skeptical of the Thunders' title hopes because of last year's playoff meltdown, ESPN's Steven A. Smith is not in that group and believes OKC is primed to win it all this season.
"Because they've got a superstar in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander," Smith said about why Oklahoma City is ready to win an NBA trophy this year. "Leading the league in scoring with over 32 (points) a game, and they've got a top ranked defense."
Third-year guard Jalen Williams is the team's second-leading scorer and is averaging a career-high 21.3 points this season. The Santa Clara product dropped a personal-best 41 points in a win over the San Antonio Spurs last Sunday night and has scored 20-plus points in more than 30 games.
7-foot-1 center Chet Holmgren returned from a pelvic injury on Feb. 7 and averaged 20.3 points over a three-game span against Utah, Minnesota, and Brooklyn. The Gonzaga product has suited up in just 17 games but is averaging 15.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks this season.
Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Hartenstein are also enjoying stellar campaigns. Wiggins is one of the top offensive weapons for Oklahoma City's second unit and notched double figures in 14 straight games from Jan. 29 to March 2. The former second-round pick is a do-it-all role player who averages 11.5 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
The Thunder signed Hartenstein in free agency after the Dallas Mavericks exposed Oklahoma City's frontline woes in last year's playoff. The 7-footer is enjoying another banner season with 11 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 4 assists for the Western Conference's top squad.
Oklahoma City boasts a league-low four losses on its home court and has knocked off Denver four times in their past five games. Although Jokic has averaged 24.0 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.1 assists in his last 10 games against the Thunder, the Nuggets will be hard-pressed to upset Gilgeous-Alexander & Co. at the Paycom Center.
Sunday’s matchup between the Nuggets and Thunder is set to be a high-stakes battle between two of the West’s top contenders, and some of New York’s best sportsbooks have taken notice with tight odds on both sides.
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge for Oklahoma City and Nikola Jokić anchoring Denver’s attack, fans can expect an intense and closely contested showdown. The Thunder's dominance at home gives them an edge, but the Nuggets have the firepower to make this a thrilling contest.
