Long before Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs rose to contender status, Oklahoma City’s rival was Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.
The NBA schedule makers made sure Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder started the season off right, with OKC hosting Denver in their home opener on Thursday.
This exciting matchup pits two of the decade’s brightest stars against each other, with Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic bringing two world titles, a pair of Finals MVPs, and five combined regular-season MVPs into this nationally televised clash.
While their individual brilliance is unparalleled, their teams also hold value, ranking in the top four in odds to win the West this season.
Nuggets vs. Thunder prediction, best bet
The Nuggets enter rested, with no games played this young season, while the Thunder struck revenge against the Spurs on Opening Night, securing a 116-104 win.
Denver’s offense led the league in scoring (122.1 points) and true shooting percentage (61.6) last season, with movement funneling through Jokic and Jamal Murray’s patented pick-and-roll combination.
Scoring can and will always remain a strong suit for them.
Defensively, they’ve struggled to turn the corner, ranking 21st with a 116 defensive rating in the 2025-26 campaign. In fact, only 30 of their games went under, while 52 went over the projected total last season.
The Over also hit in all four head-to-head meetings between these two last season. The point totals were as follows: 232 (over 225.5), 248 (over 234.5), 255 (over 237.5), and 234 (over 223.5).
Oklahoma City won three of those four regular-season meetings, and based on those numbers, it’s unlikely David Adelman’s unit will contain the Thunder offense in Thursday’s curtain-raiser.
The Thunder’s pace-and-space architect is infectious and hard to slow down, as this game will show. Containing Gilgeous-Alexander is a job in itself, but the others are poised to get looks if the Nuggets decide to throw multiple defenders at him.
Betting on the NBA?
That said, I’m inclined to think history will repeat itself, especially if OKC comes out shooting the ball as they did in San Antonio earlier in the week. The Thunder drained 14-of-23 from beyond the arc, with Jared McCain and Alex Caruso providing key minutes off the bench.
Backing the Over feels like the smart play as these two Western Conference heavyweights prepare to trade haymakers in a high-scoring battle.
The Play: Over 235.5 (-109, bet365)
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Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
