The Nuggets are hosting the Thunder for Game 6 in Denver on Thursday. The Thunder are leading the series 3-2 and can advance to the Western Conference Finals with a victory. On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Thunder are a 4.5-point favorite for Game 6 and this contest presents a total of 217 points.
Below, I break down Game 6 between the Nuggets and the Thunder and give a pick for the game via DraftKings Sportsbook.
Nuggets vs. Thunder preview, prediction
The Thunder did their job and won Game 5 in Oklahoma City 112-105 on Tuesday, giving themselves a 3-2 series lead. Denver led for the majority of this contest and was up by as many as 14 points, but Oklahoma City rallied in the fourth quarter to prevail.
The Thunder had six players score at least 12 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, per usual, led the way with 31 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Nikola Jokic was spectacular with 44 points and 15 rebounds while shooting 68% from the field. Jamal Murray was also excellent with 28 points and Aaron Gordon added 13 points. However, no other player outside these three scored more than eight points for Denver. Michael Porter Jr. especially struggled with only two points on 1-for-7 shooting, which is the third time he has scored three points or less in the first five games of this series.
While it doesn’t necessarily have to be Porter Jr., the Nuggets need one of their role players to step up in Game 6. Role players tend to play better at home, so it’s a good chance this happens for Denver in Game 6.
The Nuggets defense also plays much better on their home floor and we have seen Denver’s high altitude affect the Thunder at times this season. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 32.7 points per game this year, but he is only averaging 24.8 PPG when competing in Denver (four games). If the Nuggets can continue to bother Gilgeous-Alexander on their home floor, they will put themselves in a strong position to force a Game 7.
Nuggets vs. Thunder pick, best bet
The Nuggets are the far more experienced team which should play a major role in them keeping their season alive. A vintage home win in Game 6 should be expected as the Nuggets are 30-17 on their home court this season.
Attacking the Nuggets at +150 on the moneyline is the best bang for your buck, but if looking for a safer option, backing Denver at +4.5 is also a terrific wager. When competing as a home underdog this season, the Nuggets are 5-3 ATS.
