It’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs on Monday night at Paycom Center.
This Western Conference semifinal matchup is thick with storylines, including Russell Westbrook’s return to OKC, the SGA-Jokic battle for MVP and the Thunder’s potential ascension to NBA title contender.
The Thunder rolls into Round 2 well-rested, having swept the Grizzlies. Meanwhile, the Nuggets outlasted the Clippers in Game 7 Saturday night.
As our Joe Mussatto wrote: “Since 2000, there have been 15 series in which a team coming off a four-game sweep faced a team in the next round that had just played a seven-game series. In 14 of those instances, the team coming off a sweep beat the team coming off a seven-game slog.”
OKC and Denver split their four-game season series.
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Here what you need to know about the Thunder-Nuggets game:
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Alex Caruso putting in work
Caruso’s got *five* steals now, a playoff career high. His previous was the four steals he got in Game 3 of the Memphis series.
Alex Caruso has helped OKC force 12 turnovers and score 19 points off that. Pick 6 after pick 6. He’s moved pretty high up on the list of the Thunder’s most valuable players.
Why do they call OKC Thunder home games Loud City?
This is why. The NBA brought the sound level meter for Game 1 and recorded 100-plus decibels, which isn’t great for one’s hearing.
End of first half: Thunder 60, Nuggets 50 | OKC extends lead, heats up from deep
The Nuggets showed some signs of fatigue. A ball dribbled off Nikola Jokic’s foot and slowly rolled out of bounds with no Denver player even making an effort to get to it. An errant pass was headed for a backcourt violation, but Michael Porter Jr. didn’t seem to register it and made no attempt to avoid the turnover.
And all the while, the Thunder kept rolling fresh bodies off the bench. Ten players have already logged minutes for Oklahoma City.
And the reserves helped get the lid off the basket from deep. After the Thunder went 0 for 8 in the first quarter, Alex Caruso hit two from behind the arc while Aaron Wiggins and Jaylin Williams each added one.
The Thunder went 7 of 16 from behind the 3-point line in the quarter.
The Nuggets would be in a much bigger hole if not for Nikola Jokic, who had 10 points in the second quarter and has a game-high 16 points.
After 14 points in the first quarter, Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander managed only one in the second.
—Jenni Carlson, Columnist
End of first quarter: Thunder 27, Nuggets 26 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander helps OKC shake off the rust
A packed Paycom Center crowd was itching to erupt on OKC’s opening possession when a lob pass sailed toward Isaiah Hartenstein.
The big man was alone in the paint, cleared for takeoff. But when he palmed the ball with his left hand and attempted to throw down a hammer dunk, it clanked off the rim.
Chalk that up to rust for the Thunder, which hadn’t played a game since April 26. But after missing five of its first six shot attempts, OKC eventually found its rhythm.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way. He erupted for 14 points and six rebounds in the first quarter on 6-for-8 shooting from the field (75%) to help keep the Thunder claim a one-point lead.
—Justin Martinez, Staff writer
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5:17 left in 1Q: Nuggets 17, Thunder 15 | Russell Westbrooks enters game, receives loud ovation from OKC fans
Russell Westbrook checking in for the first time this series in the building that once chanted MVP at him. The MVP chants are flowing — just for the new guy.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Jalen Williams honors Thunder sideline reporter Nick Gallo with ‘E.T’. shirt
The Nick Gallo love continues to grow.
Oklahoma City star Jalen Williams took it to a different level with a new T-shirt he debuted before the Thunder faced the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals at Paycom Center.
Think, “E.T., phone home.”
The All-Star forward warmed up in a shirt featuring Gallo, OKC’s beloved sideline reporter, in the basket of a bike with a towel around his shoulders as Williams pedaled with the moon in the background, mimicking the iconic image from the 1982 film “E.T. the Extra Terrestrial.”
—Jacob Unruh, Deputy sports editor
More: Jalen Williams honors OKC Thunder sideline reporter Nick Gallo with ‘E.T.’ shirt
Celtics-Knicks game heading to overtime in Game 1 of NBA playoff series
We’ll see how the Celtics-Knicks game running long will push the start of the Thunder-Nuggets game to NBA TV.
Nuggets’ rotation is slim, but Nikola Jokic and Denver are ‘a quality seven’
Among the Thunder and Nuggets’ largest discrepancies is their number of bodies.
Oklahoma City could entertain the idea of platoon swapping. Denver might barf at the idea of playing more than seven players.
Still, the Nuggets have held up, outlasting the Clippers in seven games in their first-round series. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault doesn’t see much luck in that.
“It’s a quality seven with guys that have experience and guys that are really impactful players,” Daigneault said. “And they’ve introduced different guys at different times, and I would expect them to do that as we head into the series. So we’re ready for them past those seven guys that they kind of close that thing out with, but it’s a really quality rotation.
“They’ve got experience, they’ve got offensive firepower, they’ve got defensive toughness. They’re good on the glass, they’re good in transition.”
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Rust vs. Rest? Nuggets interim coach David Adelman makes his choice
The Thunder last played nine days ago. The Nuggets last played within the previous 48 hours, winning a Game 7 over the Clippers.
Advantage Thunder?
Perhaps.
Nuggets interim head coach David Adelman would sure love to know about the rest factor entering Monday night’s Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
“I think the advantage is rest,” Adelman said before the game. “I mean, I always do. That’s part of the NBA. But I do think that the emotion of winning the game we just won, and how well we played the first three and a half quarters was something to build on as you move into the next series.
“Yeah, I hope there’s rust for them. That’d be great but I expect them to come out full speed knowing that we’ve been playing and they haven’t been. That’s a major advantage.”
Adelman said he was pleased with how the team responded since Saturday night’s win.
“I kind of felt like what I saw today from the guys looked like they’re ready to go,” Adelman said. “They looked like they moved on.”
—Jacob Unruh, Deputy sports editor
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stats for 2024-25 season
- Games: 76
- Points: 32.7 per game
- Rebounds: 5.0 per game
- Assists: 6.4 per game
- Steals: 1.7 per game
- Blocks: 1.0 per game
- Field-goal shooting: 51.9%
- 3-point shooting: 37.5%
- Free-throw shooting: 89.8%
What time is Thunder vs Nuggets NBA game tonight?
- Date: Monday, May 5
- Time: 8:30 p.m. CT
- Where: Paycom Center in OKC
The Thunder vs Nuggets game starts at 8:30 p.m. CT Monday from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
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What channel is Thunder vs Nuggets on tonight in NBA Playoffs?
- TV: TNT
- How to watch online: Sling TV (free trial), truTV and Max
- Radio: WWLS 98.1 FM
The Thunder vs Nuggets game will be broadcast on TNT. It can be streamed on Sling TV, truTV and Max.
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Thunder vs. Nuggets playoff schedule
All times are Central Time (CT)
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Thunder vs. Nuggets betting odds
Odds via BetMGM as of Sunday, May 4
Odds: Thunder by 9.5
Over/under: 225.5
Moneyline: OKC -450 | Denver +340
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Thunder vs. Nuggets prediction, picks
Justin Martinez: OKC 118, Denver 107
OKC hasn’t played a game since April 26. And while it might be rusty at first, its fresh legs should give it an advantage over Denver, which finished its seven-game series against Los Angeles on Saturday. I expect the Thunder to come out with a ton of energy on defense, where it has no shortage of options to throw at Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. And on offense, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams will be a handful for a Denver team that doesn’t have nearly as many lockdown defenders. Give me OKC at home.
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OKC Thunder roster for 2024-25 NBA season
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Thunder vs. Nuggets highlights in Game 1 of Western Conference semifinals
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