The Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets open their seasons Thursday. Tip-off from Ball Arena is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (TNT). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Thunder vs. Nuggets odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Thunder won 3-1 last season
The Thunder finished last season with a 57-25 record, tied with the Denver Nuggets for the most wins in the Western Conference. They cruised past the Pelicans in the 1st round of the playoffs with a 4-game sweep before falling 4-2 against the Dallas Mavericks in the semifinals.
Denver made quick work of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1st round of the playoffs last season with a 4-1 series win before falling 4-3 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the semifinals.
Thunder at Nuggets odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NBA odds. Lines last updated at 11:31 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Thunder +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Nuggets -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Thunder +2.5 (-115) | Nuggets -2.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 227.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Thunder at Nuggets key injuries
Thunder
- C Isaiah Hartenstein (hand) out
- G Nikola Topic (knee) out
- F Jaylin Williams (hamstring) out
Nuggets
- None
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Thunder at Nuggets picks and predictions
Prediction
Nuggets 17, Thunder 112
Moneyline
PASS.
There is better value on the Nuggets (-135) spread.
Against the spread
BET NUGGETS -2.5 (-105).
Denver has a distinct advantage in this early-season matchup between the top 2 teams in the West in 2023-24; it is opening up the season in front of its home crowd and faces an Oklahoma City team that is riddled with injuries.
While Oklahoma City is still a solid team, it will be exceedingly difficult to best C Nikola Jokic and company without its full squad. With a slim spread, a Nuggets win points to a high likelihood of a cover.
Over/Under
BET OVER 227.5 (-110).
Expect this Game to feature a lot of scoring and a fast pace. With the Nuggets rallying off the energy of its home crowd, they will look to distribute the scoring, while the Thunder have a young team that finds success in pushing the ball. In a nationally televised matchup, Jokic and the Nuggets will carry this to the Over.
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