by Chuck Sommers
Sunday, Jan 09, 2022
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Where to watch: BSOK, ALT
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Nuggets -6.5; O/U 214.5
BetMGM: Nuggets -7.5; O/U 214.5
Caesars: Nuggets -7; O/U 214.5
Season record
Nuggets: 19-18 (7th place, Western Conference)
Thunder: 11-29 (15th place, Western Conference)
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Nuggets - Thunder preview and analysis
Recent form
Nuggets: won 121-111 vs. Kings on Friday
Thunder: lost three straight; lost 135-105 vs. Timberwolves on Friday
It hasn't been the kind of consistent season the Denver Nuggets were hoping for through the first half, but there's still plenty of time to turn it around. Facing struggling teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder will help the cause.
The Nuggets won for the first time in three games Friday with a 121-111 home victory against the Sacramento Kings, with reigning MVP Nikola Jokic once again looking like an eater of worlds. Jokic had another double-double of 33 points and 10 rebounds while chipping in with seven assists to continue an evolved pace that eclipses his MVP season of 2021.
"For some reason, we play a little sloppy starting third quarters and I tried to challenge them and (Jokic) led the charge," acting head coach Popeye Jones said.
The Nuggets bounced back after losing by 14 points to the Dallas Mavericks on the road and then coming back home to lose by six to the Utah Jazz at home. All five starters for Denver scored in double figures against the Kings; Jamychal Green and Monte Morris had 13 points each, while Aaron Gordon and Will Barton had quiet nights of 10 points apiece.
But it was veteran Jeff Green carrying the load off the bench with 18 points to be a great meshing piece with Jokic.
The Nuggets have gone 3-5 against the spread in the last eight with three losses decided by double digits. One of those losses was on Dec. 22 against the Thunder, in Oklahoma City, where OKC won 108-94. Since then, the Thunder have only won two of their next eight and are on a three-game losing streak after a 30-point loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves to cap a home-and-home.
Lu Dort led the way with 18 points, but the Thunder as a team shot 40 percent while the T'Wolves made more than half their shots. Aaron Wiggins had 13 points, while Western Conference Rookie of the Month Josh Giddey had 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
"You've got to tip your hat to the shot-making, early in the game especially," Daigneault said. "And I thought offensively, we kind of kept pace with them. But we can't expect to outscore that team. We've got to eventually get the defense into the game."
It hasn't been the kind of consistent season the Denver Nuggets were hoping for through the first half, but there's still plenty of time to turn it around. Facing struggling teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder will help the cause.
The Nuggets won for the first time in three games Friday with a 121-111 home victory against the Sacramento Kings, with reigning MVP Nikola Jokic once again looking like an eater of worlds. Jokic had another double-double of 33 points and 10 rebounds while chipping in with seven assists to continue an evolved pace that eclipses his MVP season of 2021.
"For some reason, we play a little sloppy starting third quarters and I tried to challenge them and (Jokic) led the charge," acting head coach Popeye Jones said.
The Nuggets bounced back after losing by 14 points to the Dallas Mavericks on the road and then coming back home to lose by six to the Utah Jazz at home. All five starters for Denver scored in double figures against the Kings; Jamychal Green and Monte Morris had 13 points each, while Aaron Gordon and Will Barton had quiet nights of 10 points apiece.
But it was veteran Jeff Green carrying the load off the bench with 18 points to be a great meshing piece with Jokic.
The Nuggets have gone 3-5 against the spread in the last eight with three losses decided by double digits. One of those losses was on Dec. 22 against the Thunder, in Oklahoma City, where OKC won 108-94. Since then, the Thunder have only won two of their next eight and are on a three-game losing streak after a 30-point loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves to cap a home-and-home.
Lu Dort led the way with 18 points, but the Thunder as a team shot 40 percent while the T'Wolves made more than half their shots. Aaron Wiggins had 13 points, while Western Conference Rookie of the Month Josh Giddey had 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
"You've got to tip your hat to the shot-making, early in the game especially," Daigneault said. "And I thought offensively, we kind of kept pace with them. But we can't expect to outscore that team. We've got to eventually get the defense into the game."
Not that the Nuggets need any more reinforcements, but more help is on the way with reports that DeMarcus Cousins will sign a 10-day contract with Denver. The former all-star big man had an impressive stint with the Milwaukee Bucks, averaging 9.1 points in just over 16 minutes a night. But the defending champs waived Cousins to open a roster space.
There's still some time for the Bucks to revisit and sign him to a longer contract. Right now, we get to see an in-shape Cousins work with Jokic. That might be a nightmare defensively but just think of the craziness those two can create in the frontcourt. The possibilities are endless.
There's still some time for the Bucks to revisit and sign him to a longer contract. Right now, we get to see an in-shape Cousins work with Jokic. That might be a nightmare defensively but just think of the craziness those two can create in the frontcourt. The possibilities are endless.
Prediction
There's that sense of revenge on the minds of the Nuggets after what happened before Christmas. Jokic is playing out of his mind right now, and the OKC frontcourt is too small to try and handle the Joker. Cousins likely won't make his debut until the next game, but patience will be a virtue with this team. Nuggets by 16
Betting trends
The Nuggets are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 when a road favorite between 6.5 and 12 points.
The Nuggets are 9-12 ATS on the road this season.
The Thunder are 23-10 ATS in January over the past three seasons.
The Thunder are 10-2 ATS this season after having lost three of four.
Projected starting lineup
Nuggets:
PG: Monte Morris
SG: Will Barton
SF: Aaron Gordon
PF: Jeff Green
C: Nikola Jokic
SF: Aaron Gordon
PF: Jeff Green
C: Nikola Jokic
Thunder:
PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SG: Aaron Wiggins
SF: Josh Giddey
PF: Luguentz Dort
C: Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
SF: Josh Giddey
PF: Luguentz Dort
C: Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Key injuries
Nuggets: Michael Porter Jr. (back, out), Jamal Murray (ACL, out)
Thunder: Derrick Favors (COVID, out)
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
