Oklahoma City became the youngest team to be a No. 1 seed last season. This year, the Thunder aim to repeat that achievement.
The Thunder have started the season with seven consecutive wins, all by double digits, and they will look to secure their eighth straight victory when they visit the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.
This will be the second meeting between the teams in less than two weeks, with Oklahoma City having won the first matchup convincingly, 102-87. Despite their impressive start, the Thunder remain focused and are not getting complacent.
Oklahoma City’s success is largely attributed to their depth. Ten players are averaging 13 or more minutes per game, and no one is playing more than 32 minutes per night, including leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. This depth bodes well for sustained success, as the team aims to improve on last season’s second-round playoff exit.
In contrast, the Nuggets face depth concerns that could cause wear and tear as the season progresses. Their lack of a reliable bench contributed to their Game 7 loss to Minnesota in the second round of the postseason. After an 0-2 start, Denver has won four of their last five games but will be without two starters. Jamal Murray has missed the last two games while in concussion protocol, and Aaron Gordon left Monday’s comeback win over Toronto with a right calf strain, which will sideline him for multiple weeks.
Gordon was dealing with right calf inflammation and left the game after playing just four minutes. Without Gordon and Murray, Denver’s bench will be further strained. Veteran Russell Westbrook has been starting at point guard in Murray’s absence, and Peyton Watson will likely step in at power forward with Gordon out.
Nikola Jokic has been a standout, averaging a triple-double through seven games with 29.6 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 10.3 assists. He ranks fifth in the league in scoring, third in rebounds, and second in assists.
Jokic’s overall game has been instrumental in helping the younger players, and the reigning MVP continues to demonstrate his value to the team.
