Denver Nuggets vs Oklahoma City Thunder

On Friday night, we head to Colorado’s Ball Arena for Game 3 of the NBA Playoff clash between the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder dominated Game 2, winning 149-106 to tie the series 1-1. Here’s our prediction for the upcoming matchup.

Following a strong Game 1, the Nuggets faltered in Game 2, appearing outmatched and overwhelmed. Their performance suggested fatigue from the quick game schedule, with Nikola Jokic scoring only 17 points compared to his 44-point Game 1 outburst.

Denver struggled, shooting just 37.9% from the field and turning the ball over 20 times. Michael Porter Jr managed only eight points, and Christian Braun contributed just six.

Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder, after a sluggish Game 1, showcased their regular-season dominance. They erupted for 87 points in the first half, matching an NBA Playoff record, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way, scoring 34 points on 11-of-13 field goals and a perfect 11-of-11 from the free-throw line.

OKC shot an impressive 56% from the field, with eight players reaching double figures, including all five starters. Chet Holmgren also continued to shine defensively.

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Denver Nuggets 149-106 at Paycom Center in their matchup two nights ago.

For the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points, Jalen Williams scored 17, and Chet Holmgren scored 15 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Jamal Murray scored 14, Nikola Jokic scored 17, and Russell Westbrook scored 19 points for the Nuggets.

The Thunder have won six of the last ten meetings between these two clubs. In the last ten games, the Thunder have won nine and lost one. They are shooting 80.4% from the free-throw line and 48.0% from the field, and they are averaging 126.9 points, 45.9 rebounds, 26.9 assists, 10.7 steals, and 6.1 blocks. In each game, the opposition has averaged 107.2 points and 46.5 rebounds.

The Denver Nuggets lost Game 2 to the Oklahoma City Thunder by a huge margin after deciding that their thrilling victory in Game 1 was sufficient in Oklahoma City.

We will soon learn how seriously the Nuggets can compete against the 68-win Thunder when the series moves back to Denver. In game one, Denver obviously caught them off guard, and OKC reciprocated. Which So much of Game 2 was about the Thunder putting the Nuggets on their heels in the first quarter. The Nuggets had opportunities to keep it close, but they didn’t make the shots they needed to make early, and the Thunder acted like a boulder rolling downhill once they got momentum.

After a surprising 121-119 loss at home in Game 1, OKC rebounded with a dominant win in Game 2 on Thursday, tying the series 1-1 as they head to Denver.

Fresh off a grueling first-round battle against the LA Clippers, the Nuggets pulled off an upset in Game 1, with Aaron Gordon delivering the game-winning points for the second time in these Playoffs.

However, Denver’s limited roster depth and the tight postseason schedule took a toll in Game 2, resulting in a lopsided 149-106 loss.

Nikola Jokic, who dominated Game 1 with 42 points, 22 rebounds, six assists, and two blocks, struggled in Game 2, scoring only 17 points on six-of-16 shooting, with eight rebounds and six assists.

Gordon and Jamal Murray were also subdued, managing 10 and 14 points, respectively, though Russell Westbrook provided a bright spot off the bench, contributing 19 points and five assists in 22 minutes.

A key worry for Denver is Michael Porter Jr.’s form, as he’s averaging just five points per game in the series with a 16.7% shooting rate and is reportedly dealing with a shoulder injury.