Nuggets vs. Thunder Preview
By Evan Wheeler
The Matchup: Oklahoma City Thunder (53-24) at Denver Nuggets (32-46)
Location: Pepsi Center – Denver, CO
Time: Tuesday, April 5 at 7:00 p.m. MT
How to Watch: Altitude
Betting Line (per Bovada): Thunder by 8.5
Projected Starting Lineups:
Denver – PG Emmanuel Mudiay, SG Gary Harris, SF JaKarr Sampson, PF Kenneth Faried, C Nikola Jokic
Oklahoma City– PG Russell Westbrook, SG Andre Roberson, SF Kevin Durant, PF Serge Ibaka, C Steven Adams
The Nuggets are struggling lately, going 1-4 in their last five games and things won’t get any easier when they welcome the Thunder to town on Tuesday night. The Thunder can clinch the third seed in the Western Conference with a win over the Nuggets. Oklahoma City will seek the season sweep here of Denver, as well as their sixth straight win against the Nuggets. The Thunder have had their way offensively in the season series, averaging a whopping 116.3 points per game in their three victories against the Nuggets.
Players to Watch: Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook
Oklahoma City’s dynamic duo has had their way with Denver and no signs point to them being slown down, in the team’s final meeting this season. Durant and Westbrook have averaged a combined 51.0 points, 17.0 assists, 13.7 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game this season against the Nuggets, while shooting 52.7 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from the three-point line. I see no reason to believe Denver can contain them at all on Tuesday night.
The Nuggets defense will get picked apart by Durant and Westbrook once again, losing their third straight game in a high scoring affair.
Final Score Prediction: Nuggets 103, Thunder 113