Game 4 of the second-round playoff series between the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder is scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Interestingly, the top-seeded Thunder have outscored the Nuggets by a combined 32 points through the first three games, yet they find themselves trailing 2-1 in the series.
Denver has demonstrated a knack for winning close contests in this matchup. They pulled off a dramatic late comeback in Game 1 to steal a victory on the road. Although Oklahoma City responded with a commanding 43-point win in Game 2, the Nuggets bounced back to claim Game 3 in overtime on Friday, reclaiming the series lead.
The Thunder, who finished the regular season with an NBA-best 68 wins, are still widely regarded as the favorites to advance in the series and are also favored to win Game 4.
Game 4 Details
Date: Sunday, May 11
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Ball Arena — Denver
TV channel: ABC
Odds: Thunder -6.5, Over/Under 228
Game 4 Best Bet
The flow of Games 1 and 3 seemed to favor the Nuggets, particularly in tight situations where they hold an advantage. The Thunder played very few clutch games during the regular season (only 24), largely because they often won convincingly. While this lack of experience in close finishes could be a slight disadvantage against a seasoned champion like Denver, it primarily highlights their dominance throughout the year.
Oklahoma City`s struggles in Game 1 were partly due to being significantly outrebounded, an issue they appeared to resolve in Games 2 and 3. Their close call in Game 3 was also impacted by uncharacteristically poor three-point shooting (25.7%), which is unlikely to be a recurring problem. Despite Denver`s solid home net rating (+5.4), Oklahoma City`s road net rating (+10.5) is significantly better. Assuming a more typical performance from both sides, the Thunder are expected to secure a comfortable win.
The Pick: Thunder -6.5
Jasper Hawthorne