I dare you to show me a series in these playoffs with more excitement and drama than this Thunder vs. Nuggets showdown. The old guard vs. the new, the presumed MVP vs. the reigning MVP, it’s all on the line. And I, for one, cannot wait.
There are lots of questions to be answered. Can anyone not named Shai Gilgeous-Alexander step up for the Thunder offensively? Will Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray carry their team as they always have? Is Aaron Gordon going to play? And how long can Michael Porter Jr. remain effective with just one working arm?
Game 7 tips off at 3:30 p.m. ET tomorrow in Oklahoma City. The Thunder are eight-point favorites in the win-or-go-home contest, with the total set at 213.5 on the DraftKings Sportsbook. Let’s dig into the prediction and best bets.
Thunder vs. Nuggets Prediction
One thing is for sure: the Denver Nuggets have the edge in experience in this one. This will be the seventh Game 7 of Nikola Jokic’s career, and it’s the third straight Denver series to go the distance.
Denver is not new to this, and most of these Oklahoma City Thunder players are. However, after establishing themselves last season, this core is experiencing a new kind of grind. It’s probably been a sweaty, sleepless couple of days for some of these guys. Meanwhile, the Nuggets players are sleeping like babies. Elimination games are just a Tuesday for them.
Experience isn’t everything, but it counts extra in these games. That, and the look in Nikola Jokic’s eyes the past two games would have me scared if I was a Thunder fan. I’m taking the Nuggets to win this one on the road and cash in on the +260 moneyline.
Thunder vs. Nuggets Best Picks
On top of the moneyline, I’m counting on this to be a low-scoring contest. This Thunder team has not shown the true nature of their elite defense quite yet, and the Nuggets have buckled down on that end throughout these playoffs.
Both of these teams must be exhausted, as well. The Nuggets are coming up on their 14th contest in two rounds, and the Thunder have been bludgeoned all series by a big and physical team. Tomorrow is going to be trench warfare, World War One style. Last man standing wins. That only makes me more confident in the under at 213.5.
