Thunder vs Nuggets Game Analysis
Although the Thunder had the best record in the NBA during the regular season (68-14), they had trouble against the Nuggets, winning only two of the four regular-season matchups. OKC won 127-103 on March 19, and Denver won 140-127 on March 20. Is it any wonder these teams alternated their wins up until Game 5?
Denver’s experience, along with three-time MVP Nikola Jokić on their roster, versus a young, talented team with greater depth, has kept this series close. Denver hopes that their experience and determination will get them through another seven-game series before the exhaustion ends the season for them.
It’s not just that OKC is a younger team, but they have much more depth than Denver and can rely on their bench to keep them winning. The Nuggets can’t compete when Jokić is on the sidelines.
Oklahoma City Thunder Recent Scores
In the first round, the Thunder dominated the No. 8 seed Grizzlies as you’d expect. The only close game was the last one, where Memphis almost caused an upset, 117-115.
The Nuggets are 29-16 at home, but the Thunder are 34-8 on the road. In this series, Denver has won in overtime, and on Aaron Gordon’s game-winning three-pointer. The Thunder blew out the Nuggets 149-106, and most recently won by a score of 112-105. To Denver’s credit, they came back to win after that blowout win, so they don’t get discouraged easily.
Denver Nuggets Recent Scores
In the first round, No. 4 seed Denver took on No. 5 seed Los Angeles Clippers. It went seven games in a close, back-and-forth series. The first two games in Denver were close, with only a two-point differential in Game 1 and three points in Game 2. Each team walked away with a win in Denver before LA clobbered the Nuggets at home, 117-83, to go ahead 2-1 in the series. That was the only game in which Denver was kept below 100 points.
In Game 7, Denver controlled most of the game, winning 120-101, to secure the series victory.
Jokić’s Brilliance: Thunder vs Nuggets Prediction
Playoff basketball is not the same as the regular season. Experience and physical stamina play a significant part in the outcome. I have no doubt that OKC will come out the winner in this series, but it won’t be easy. The confidence OKC has from their regular season gets tested regularly in the playoffs. Their depth of solid players will help that considerably and can possibly overcome their lack of playoff experience. Time will tell.
Denver is playing on borrowed time. They’ve already gone through a seven-game series and may not have the stamina to go through another one. I don’t think they will win Game 6, but I won’t discount Jokić’s ability to win it if he has Gordon’s clutch plays, Russell Westbrook’s energy, and possibly a healthy Michael Porter Jr.
I’m playing it safe and predicting a 106-102 win for the Thunder. Remember to follow us at BossAction to be updated with every NBA Playoffs news.
