There was some doubt leading up to the game, but all of the stars are healthy enough to play and will be in action on Sunday for the marquee showdown between the Thunder and Nuggets. The teams come into the matchup in Oklahoma City as the top two seeds in the Western Conference. OKC leads the way at 52-11, with Denver in second at 41-22.
The Nuggets almost certainly won’t close that 11-game gap and catch the Thunder, but they can make a statement over the next 48 hours and give the Thunder, and the league, something to think about going forward.
It’s also a chance for Denver to see how they stack up against the league’s elite teams; something that has been a major struggle this season. Luckily, both sides are healthy coming into this one and any lingering injury concerns should be put aside for these playoff-like games on Sunday and Monday.
Jokic and Gordon available
For the Nuggets, they didn’t have any major concerns, but Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon were listed as probable. There was little doubt they’d play after they logged major minutes on Friday night, and sure enough, the Nuggets will have their normal starting frontcourt on Sunday.
Chet Holmgren and SGA playing for OKC
The Thunder have been getting Chet Holmgren fully acclimated after his long injury absence but he will be suiting up for this one. OKC rested most of their top players on Friday night, so they should be well-rested and fully healthy for these measuring-stick games against the 2023 NBA champions.
Jokic and SGA battling for MVP Award
Beyond the obvious team implications, these games may well decide the MVP Award as well. It has been a close race for most of the year, but Gilgeous-Alexander has separated himself a bit with ridiculous scoring and the dominance of the Thunder. But Jokic has closed the gap in recent weeks and is coming off a historic 31/21/22 performance.
SGA is still the favorite, but if Jokic can come into his gym and win these two games in impressive fashion, he could shift the narrative and leave a lasting impression in the minds of voters who will need to make their decision very soon.
These should be two great regular-season basketball games; it looks like both teams are fully loaded and taking things seriously. This should be a good chance for Denver to see how they really stack up against the team they are likely going to have to overcome to win the Western Conference.