The Western Conference’s top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14) will definitely encounter the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets (50-32) within the 2nd spherical of the2025 NBA playoffs The 2 franchise enterprise have really not fulfilled within the playoffs contemplating that the opening spherical in 2011, when Kevin Durant’s Thunder made quick job of the Nuggets.
What we perceive round Oklahoma City
The Thunder boggled the thoughts all interval, sending the second-best net rating (12.8) in NBA background and coming to be the seventh group ever earlier than to win 68 video video games all through the conventional interval. Four of the 6 varied different teams to do it– received the champion in the exact same interval. The varied different 2 received a title inside a yr. It makes good sense, after that, that Oklahoma City is the wagering most popular to win this yr’s crown, per BetMGM.
They are led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, that’s likewise the popular to win this yr’s NBA MVP honor. He ended up second to Denver Nuggets tremendous star Nikola Joki ć final interval. Gilgeous-Alexander is completely nothing like Joki ć. He is a slim 6-foot-6 level participant that knives his means proper into any type of gap in an opposing safety. He can rack up from wherever, consisting of the free-throw line, the place he reaches extra ceaselessly than any particular person. Gilgeous-Alexander’s stats– a league-leading 32.7 elements (on 52/38/90 capturing divides), 6.4 aids and 5 rebounds per online game– made his one of the vital environment friendly interval of any type of guard contemplating that Michael Jordan.
SGA is partnered with Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, a set of fellow climbing celebrities. Both are two-way hazards of their very personal means. Williams is a wing that develops for himself, likewise racking up from each diploma, and safeguards all 5 settings. Holmgren, on the identical time, is a 7-1, 215-pound rim-runner and -guard that may room the flooring to 3-point array. Together they could be one of the vital gifted younger triad within the group.
They would be the inmost group within the NBA, as effectively. Isaiah Hartenstein opens a disastrous double-big schedule. Lu Dort, Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso are protecting bulldogs on the boundary. Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe room the flooring. There are unrestricted schedule mixes for head coach Mark Daigneault.
Daigneault went 13 deep of their first-round assortment versus the Memphis Grizzlies, although a number of of that was since they’d a number of trash time. The Thunder walloped the Grizzlies, outscoring them by 78 elements over a four-game transfer. SGA, Williams and Holmgren had been mind-blowing within the assortment, as was practically each particular person within the turning. It was one of the best encapsulation of this group that performs so effectively with one another.
What we perceive round Denver
The NBA’s 2023 champs had been robust, logging 50 success for a third straight interval. The superior effectivity of Joki ć– a three-time MVP that’s generally considered the best gamer on the planet– hid what had been some worrying fads, particularly on safety, the place the Nuggets positioned twenty first.
Joki ć can offset an incredible deal. He balanced 29.6 elements (on 58/42/80 capturing divides), 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 aids and 1.8 swipes per online game all through the conventional interval, rating main 3 within the NBA in every group. He sees the online game much better than any particular person, adjusting defenses along with his power within the paint, his talent on a funny-looking but dependable open air shot or his capability to find any type of open male on any type of space on the flooring.
Complementing him are Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon,Michael Porter Jr and Christian Braun– 4 varied different gifted contributors of a starting 5 that outscored challengers by 10.6 elements per 100 belongings.
Murray is a vibrant level participant whose well being and wellness continually stays an issue. He and Joki ć sort amongst one of the vital hazardous two-man mixes within the online game. Gordon is a exceptional efficient and sports activities onward that has really boosted his shot from the boundary. And Porter is a 6-10 marksman whose non-shooting shoulder is a further well being and wellness challenge. Together they’re the residues of a champion core.
Depth is a priority. One- time MVP Russell Westbrook is their sixth male. His initiative is as common as his effectivity is irregular. Beyond him are way more enigma. Peyton Watson is the simply one among Denver’s younger objects that could be relied on for higher than 6 minutes per online game within the opening spherical.
And that first-round assortment versus the Los Angeles Clippers was critically. The Clippers had been a lot a lot deeper and most definitely way more gifted, additionally if Joki ć was the best gamer within the seven-game assortment. The Nuggets required every little thing from Joki ć, plus one 43-point online game from Murray and a cumulative initiative in your house in Game 7 to progress.
That initiative started a part of appearing head trainerDavid Adelman The Nuggets terminated very long time head coach Michael Malone with 3 video video games staying within the regular interval. Malone didn’t rely on Denver’s younger folks, counting tremendously on his six-man turning, and his safety was not finishing up to its criterion. It was much better underneath Adelman versus the Clippers, although the underlying issues proceed to be an issue versus the Thunder.
Head- to-head
The Thunder and Nuggets related their regular-season assortment, 2-2.
They divided a set within the very first 10 video video games of the interval and did the exact same on back-to-back evenings inMarch Both teams had been moderately wholesome and balanced for all 4 conferences, although Denver was lacking out on each Murray and Gordon when the Nuggets beat Oklahoma City onNov 6, 124-122, many because of Westbrook’s 29 elements.
The March conferences had been one thing of an MVPBowl The group’s 2 main prospects had been superb versus every varied different. Gilgeous-Alexander accomplished 40 elements, 8 rebounds and 5 aids in a 127-103 success on one night, and Joki ć went down a 35-18-8 in a 140-127 win the next night. The MVP dialogue alternated along with them, and neither prospect confiscated boasting authorized rights over the varied different.
Denver’s starting schedule– Joki ć, Murray, Gordon, Porter and Braun– outscored the Thunder by 15.2 elements per 100 belongings over 31 minutes. That is urging. The bench, nonetheless, was not. This will deserve maintaining a tally of all assortment: Can the Nuggets endure any type of of their minutes with out Joki ć on the court docket?
Conversely, OKC’s double-big schedule, together with Holmgren and Hartenstein together with SGA, Williams and Dort, outscored Denver by 34.8 elements per 100 belongings in 24 minutes. Expect to see an excessive amount of that, because the smaller sized Thunder try to limit Joki ć’s affect. Neither Holmgren neither Hartenstein can shield him alone.
Matchup to get pleasure from
Nikola Joki ć vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The 2 will definitely not shield every varied different, but start: These are the NBA’s main 2 MVP prospects, and they’re going to actually encounter every varied different within the playoffs. This has really not taken place contemplating that James Harden and Russell Westbrook fulfilled as each main MVP prospects within the preliminary of the 2017 playoffs. (Harden received that assortment, 4-1.)
The Nuggets had been -6 over Joki ć’s 156 minutes versus the Thunder this era. They had been -18 in his 36 minutes unemployed. On the varied different hand, Oklahoma City was +4 in Gilgeous-Alexander’s 147 minutes versus Denver this era and +20 in his 45 minutes off the flooring. That informs us it must be shut when these 2 tangle on the court docket with one another, which must be for 40+ minutes a night. That is an excessive amount of satisfying.
It will definitely be an incredible examination of every prospect’s price. Neither group really has an individual to guard the varied different’s very best gamer. Joki ć perseverance his means to the sting. SGA will definitely sculpt his means there. Both will definitely generate– an incredible deal.
If Joki ć and Gilgeous-Alexander are as extraordinary as we anticipate them to be, the true distinction on this assortment may boil right down to their specific companions, Murray andWilliams Murray has really been a playoff god in years previous, although not so long as the Nuggets would definitely similar to of late. Williams is 24 years of ages and has really simply been proper right here in a second-round assortment as quickly as up to now. His younger folks will definitely be checked so long as Murray’s incongruity.
Crunch- time schedules
Oklahoma City Thunder
Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Holmgren and Dort are pillars of Oklahoma City’s shutting schedule. That quartet ended up the conventional interval +13.5 elements per 100 non-garbage belongings, per Cleaning the Glass.
Daigneault opted for Caruso as a fifth alternative– and a third guard– versus the Grizzlies within the opening spherical, a minimal of in minority clutch minutes of the gathering. Going smaller sized will not be continually an incredible idea versus Joki ć and Gordon, each of whom can penalize on the within. Expect some Hartenstein as a substitute of Caruso, simply if Denver’s dimension finally ends up being a hassle. Hartenstein and Holmgren likewise outscored challengers by 13.5 purposeful belongings all through the conventional interval. Essentially, Daigneault has no shortage of instruments.
Denver Nuggets
Joki ć, Murray, Gordon and Braun will definitely get on the flooring when video video games are restricted within the 4th quarter, except one thing is wrong. That so much we perceive. They had been one hell of a foursome all through the conventional interval, outscoring challengers by 15.5 elements per 100 purposeful belongings, according to Cleaning the Glass.
Against the Clippers, Adelman extra ceaselessly relied on Westbrook over Porter for the fifth space, which actually had much more to do with Porter’s shoulder harm than Westbrook’s steadier hand. Porter’s minutes with the 4 varied different newbies in had been way more dependable versus the Thunder all through the conventional interval.
Prediction: Thunder in 6
Joki ć can simply deliver so hefty an issue. Gilgeous-Alexander’s manufacturing will definitely scale back loads of Joki ć’s supremacy, and the Thunder’s deepness will definitely win, sporting down the Nuggets all through a best-of-seven assortment. But not previous to the only champs swipe numerous success versus an all-time wonderful lineup.
Series wagering chances
Oklahoma City Thunder: -800
Denver Nuggets: +550
Series timetable (perpetuity Eastern)
Game 1: Monday @ Oklahoma City (9:30 p.m., TNT)
Game 2: Wed., May 7 @ Oklahoma City (9:30 p.m., TNT)
Game 3: Fri., May 9 @ Denver (10 p.m., ESPN)
Game 4: Sun., May 11 @ Denver (3:30 p.m., ABC)
*Game 5: Tue., May 13 @ Oklahoma City (TBD, TNT)
*Game 6: Thu., May 15 @ Denver (TBD, ESPN)
* Game 7: Sun., May 18 @ Oklahoma City (TBD)
* if required
