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Denver Nuggets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction 10-24-24 NBA Picks

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Oklahoma City Thunder (0-0) vs. Denver Nuggets (0-0)
October 24, 2024 10:00 pm EDT
The Line: Denver Nuggets -2.5; Over/Under: +224.5
(Get latest betting odds)

The Oklahoma City Thunder travel to the Ball Arena to take on the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night. Here’s a Denver Nuggets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction. This article will include a Denver Nuggets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Pick.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder will be eager for another deep playoff run after earning 57 wins in the regular season, before coming up short to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued to improve as he finished with averages of 30.1 points and 6.2 assists per game and they got plenty of support from their role players like Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. In terms of player moves, the Thunder traded away Josh Giddey and acquired Alex Caruso via trade and Isaiah Hartenstein via free agency.

Denver Nuggets

Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets were good enough to reel off 57 wins in the regular season and blow past the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs, only to drop a 3-2 series lead against the young Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semifinals. The Nuggets needed to shake up the roster a bit and they moved away Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Jackson to get Dario Saric and Russell Westbrook via free agency. I really like the addition of Westbrook who can easily steer the offense when Nikola Jokic isn’t on the floor, but the Nuggets’ hopes this season relies heavily on Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr returning to form.

Why the Denver Nuggets will win

  • The Thunder have lost each of their last six road openers against Western Conference opponents.
  • The Nuggets have won each of their last eight Thursday games at Ball Arena.
  • The Thunder have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six games against Northwest Division opponents.
  • The Nuggets have covered the spread in nine of their last 12 season openers against Western Conference opponents.

Total Points Facts

  • Each of the Thunder’s last six road openers against Western Conference opponents have gone UNDER the total points line.
  • Each of the last five games between the Thunder and Nuggets have gone UNDER the total points line.

Denver Nuggets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction

The Thunder are still a little shorthanded with Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams and Jalen Williams all on the injury report, while the Nuggets are coming into this one at full strength. The Thunder are more than capable of pulling off the upset to start the season if they can get a big game from Gilgeous-Alexander, but I think the Nuggets get off to a flyer like they did last season where they won eight of their first nine games. This should be a close one, but the Nuggets are fast starters and they are always tough to beat at home, so I am happy to lay the points here.

Peter Tran's Free Pick: Denver -2.5

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