Tipoff is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
This Western Conference showdown is a heavyweight clash with major seeding implications in the final week of the regular season. The top-seeded Thunder visit the third-place Nuggets, who have surged into the No. 3 seed with a 10-game winning streak and are closing their home schedule strong. Oklahoma City has already locked up the No. 1 seed in the West, while Denver is fighting to avoid a tougher second-round path.
Injury Report
Oklahoma City Thunder:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (right oblique injury management) – Out
Chet Holmgren (low back spasms) – Out
Jalen Williams (right hamstring injury management) – Out
Isaiah Hartenstein (left soleus/calf injury management) – Out
Isaiah Joe (left knee soreness) – Out
Cason Wallace (left great toe soreness) – Out
Ajay Mitchell (left ankle injury management) – Out
Alex Caruso (rest) – Out
Jaylin Williams (right Achilles) – Out
Thomas Sorber (right ACL recovery) – Out
Denver Nuggets:
Nikola Jokić (right wrist) – Questionable (day-to-day)
Jamal Murray (right shoulder impingement) – Questionable (day-to-day)
Aaron Gordon (right hamstring) – Questionable (day-to-day)
Spencer Jones (right hamstring strain) – Out
Peyton Watson (right hamstring strain) – Out
Oklahoma City is extremely short-handed and in heavy load-management/rest mode with the No. 1 seed secured. Denver’s big three are all questionable but expected to be game-time decisions; the Nuggets’ depth has carried them through the recent streak regardless.
Player Matchups & Probable Starters
OKC Probable Starters (heavily depleted): Lu Dort / reserves, plus young rotation pieces and two-way call-ups (exact lineup fluid due to mass absences).
DEN Probable Starters (TBD pending big-three status): Nikola Jokić (C – if active), Jamal Murray (G – if active), Aaron Gordon (F – if active), plus supporting wings like Christian Braun and frontcourt depth.
Key Matchups:
Nuggets’ star trio (if healthy) vs. Thunder reserves: Jokić’s elite playmaking and interior dominance should overwhelm a depleted OKC frontcourt missing Holmgren and Hartenstein. Murray’s scoring and Gordon’s athleticism exploit mismatches against OKC’s young or rested perimeter.
Thunder youth movement vs. Denver’s experience: Without SGA, Jalen Williams, and Caruso, Oklahoma City relies on unproven pieces that will struggle to match Denver’s half-court execution and transition pace.
Bench/Depth: Denver’s veteran rotation and recent hot form provide a massive edge in second-unit scoring and defensive intensity.
The talent and experience gap widens dramatically if Oklahoma City rests its core.
Recent Team Forms
Thunder (7-3 in last 10, seeking 8th straight win): Oklahoma City remains dominant overall but enters this contest with heavy rest and load management after a strong season-long run.
Nuggets (10-game winning streak, 8-2 in last 10): Denver has been one of the hottest teams in the league, climbing into the No. 3 seed with elite offense and balanced play at home.
Series History
Oklahoma City leads the 2025-26 season series 3-0 (most recent: 129-126 Thunder win on March 9 in Oklahoma City; earlier wins of 127-121 OT on Feb. 27 and 121-111 on Feb. 1 in Denver). Denver has struggled to contain Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in those matchups, but tonight’s absences flip the script. This is the final regular-season meeting.
Betting Trends
Denver is strong as home favorites during winning streaks; unders have hit in several recent Nuggets contests when resting opponents are involved. Oklahoma City is poor ATS when heavily resting stars.
Game Odds
Oklahoma City Thunder 232.5
Denver Nuggets – 11.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, April 9, 2026
