The Oklahoma City Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are set to commence their second-round playoff series against Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. Oklahoma City enters the matchup well-rested, having swept the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round and enjoying more than a week off. Conversely, the Nuggets had only a single day of rest following their challenging Game 7 victory over the Clippers on Saturday night.
Heading into the second round, the Thunder are seen as strong contenders, listed as favorites to win the NBA title with +135 odds. They are also the significant favorites to emerge victorious from the Western Conference at -225 odds. The other Western Conference semifinal series features the sixth-seeded Timberwolves facing the seventh-seeded Warriors, who advanced after winning their own Game 7 contest on Sunday.
Game 1 Prediction
The regular season series between Denver and Oklahoma City was competitive, with each team securing two wins. While the Nuggets may be fatigued after their lengthy first-round series, the Thunder could potentially show signs of rust due to their extended break; their starters have played only four games since April 9. Although Oklahoma City is favored and expected to win the game, the betting line appears somewhat high given these contrasting circumstances. A suggested pick is the Nuggets +9.5.
Jasper Hawthorne