BookmakersReview

CBS Sports

CapperTek

Covers

Dratings

DunkelIndex

ESPN

FlashPicks

GameSim

OddsShark

OddsTrader

SportGrid

Sports Betting Dime

VSiN

Wunderdog

Moneyline

Total

Point Spread

Away/Home

Wins

Ov / Un

Nuggets

Aaron Gordon

Christian Braun

Dario Saric

DaRon Holmes II

DeAndre Jordan

Hunter Tyson

Jalen Pickett

Jamal Murray

Julian Strawther

Michael Porter Jr.

Nikola Jokic

Peyton Watson

PJ Hall

Russell Westbrook

Spencer Jones

Trey Alexander

Vlatko Cancar

Zeke Nnaji

Thunder

Aaron Wiggins

Adam Flagler

Ajay Mitchell

Alex Caruso

Alex Ducas

Alex Reese

Branden Carlson

Cason Wallace

Chet Holmgren

Dillon Jones

Isaiah Hartenstein

Isaiah Joe

Jalen Williams

Jaylin Williams

Kenrich Williams

Luguentz Dort

Malevy Leons

Ousmane Dieng

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Away/Home Defense

Away/Home Offense

Defense

Offense

Denver Nuggets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Picks

Paycom Center

<p>Two of the best players on the entire planet face off in Round Two of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic are both MVP candidates and now only one of them can move on to the Western Conference Finals. Only one of them will have a chance to lift Larry. We&#8217;ve got Game One of Round Two in the 2025 NBA playoffs. Let&#8217;s. Talk. Hoops.</p>
<h3 class="p1">Game Information</h3>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li1">Paycom Center &#8211; Oklahoma City, OK</li>
<li class="li1">#4 Denver Nuggets visit #1 Oklahoma City Thunder</li>
<li class="li1">Previous Matchup: DEN 140-127, March 10th, 2025 &#8211; Regular Season</li>
<li>Series is tied at 0-0</li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_69498" style="width: 1010px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-69498" class="size-full wp-image-69498" src="https://wp.bettingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Nuggets2025ChampionshipOdds.jpg" alt="Nikola Jokic all smiles in Ball Arena with Nuggets logo. 2025 NBA Championship Odds and Analysis." width="1000" height="510" srcset="https://wp.bettingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Nuggets2025ChampionshipOdds.jpg 1000w, https://wp.bettingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Nuggets2025ChampionshipOdds-300x153.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><p id="caption-attachment-69498" class="wp-caption-text"><em>Can the Joker will his team past one of the best regular season defences ever?</em></p></div>
<h2>Denver Nuggets @ Oklahoma City Thunder</h2>
<p>These two franchises split the season series at two games a piece. Denver suffers from such success that a 50 win MVP level season from Jokic and the Nuggets feels like underachieving. The small market Oklahoma City Thunder won 68 regular season games and that somehow is being undervalued around the association. Both these teams are fighting outside perceptions. The home team opens up the series are near double digit favourites. Rightfully, however, the Serbian centre is the great equalizer.</p>
<p>The Thunder cruised to a series sweep over the Memphis Grizzlies. Their leader and star averaged 27.8 points per game as they made the series look very easy. However, the Nuggets are an opponent that has more playoff experience. Mark Daigneault needs to ensure his young squad is focused. The job is not done and what lays before them will not be easy if they truly seek to be in title contention. The playoffs and the regular season are two different beasts. Furthermore, the Grizzlies struggled down the stretch of the regular season and nearly became consumed by headlines and posts on the timeline. Their opponents have had similar tumultuous times and weathered it far better.</p>
<p>Conversely, Denver beat the Clippers in seven hotly contested basketball games. They&#8217;ve been scratching and clawing for every game for months. Nikola Jokic said they were a beast awoken and this animal refuses to rest since then. Consequently, one does begin to wonder if the Nuggets have enough to face a team that is deep, talented, and most importantly &#8212; rested.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thunder-Nuggets WCSF.</p>
<p>8 days of rest. 1 day of rest. <a href="https://t.co/p3cXDEgQuF">pic.twitter.com/p3cXDEgQuF</a></p>
<p>— StatMuse (@statmuse) <a href="https://twitter.com/statmuse/status/1918849795642310690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<div class="mb-2 card d-flex left-cta-box flex-column flex-lg-row justify-content-center justify-content-lg-start align-items-center">
	<div class="p-3 pl-lg-4 bg-left-cta-box text-center">
		<img 
		class="align-self-center w-100 h-100"
		src="https://fantasydataobj.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/books/betonline-logo-194x62.webp" 
		alt="BetOnline Sportsbook logo" />
	</div>
	<div class="px-3 pt-0 pt-lg-3  pt-3 pb-lg-3 text-center text-lg-left w-75">
		<span class="text-dark font-weight-bold mb-2">Up to $250 in Free Bets + 100 Free Spins</span><br />
		<span class="mb-0 text-grey-400 small">First Deposit Bonus</span>
	</div>
	<div class="p-3">
		<a class="btn text-nowrap stretched-link btn-success" role="button" href="https://affiliates.bettingnews.com/register/betonline/" target="_blank" data-event-label="betonline-sportsbook-card" rel="noopener sponsored">Claim Your Bonus »</a>
	</div>
</div>
<p><em><a href="https://www.bettingnews.com/articles/nba/2025-nba-championship-odds-and-analysis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out our Championship odds piece!</a></em></p>
<h3>NBA Game Analysis</h3>
<p>This series opens up with a near double-digit spread and there are many reasons for that. Full disclaimer, I am very high on the Oklahoma City team. The Thunder have been outplaying anyone who takes the court with them, and that started in October, and they have not relented since the season&#8217;s start. OKC has fielded one of the best defences in the history of the association. Oklahoma City has multiple elite defensive playmakers, several solid stoppers, and no one you can pick on defensively.</p>
<p>I really do believe this team can beat anyone in a seven game series&#8230;</p>
<p>Yes, including the Boston Celtics.</p>
<p>Denver&#8217;s path to victory obviously starts and ends with Nikola Jokic. There is no real stopper for him. That is undeniable. He averaged a 11.6 rebounds, 10.1 assists, and 24.0 points while shooting 45.2% from three in the opening round.</p>
<p>However, beyond that they need outlier contributions by role players. A different man needs to step up every game. They needed to play fast in Game Seven against the Clippers. They did that. Denver won the fast break battle scoring 24 points in transition. As a result, their best transition scorer, Christian Braun, ended up having his fingerprints all over that game. This is the type of performance the Nuggets need from their role players to compete in this series.</p>
<h3>The Thunder&#8217;s Weakness</h3>
<p>Oklahoma City has one flaw that have proven fatal. It is the reason they have had trouble with teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves. A team ranked first in so many categories ranked just 24th in 2nd chance points allowed. Furthermore, this team allowed a offensive rebound % that was middle of the pack while allowing the 26th ranked opponent free throw rate. It may seem puzzling and counter intuitive but you need to overwhelm this offence.</p>
<p>Conclusively, the one way to beat the Thunder is to shoot, shoot, shoot, and then crash. You&#8217;re only hope is overwhelm, exhaust, and run on their defence. When they are set in the half court you&#8217;re doomed. Schematically and individually they are too good. You simply have to cause chaos.</p>
<p>In the playoffs, Denver&#8217;s best 2nd chance scorer has also been the fifth best in the association. Aaron Gordon is scoring 4.3 second chance points per contest. He&#8217;s always been an X-factor for the Nuggets since arriving. That will not change if Denver makes noise in this series.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.bettingnews.com/tools/outlier-bet-review/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Key Outlier.Bet Insights</a></h3>
<div class="[ trending-insight ] flex flex-col gap-16px bg-lvl-1 group-hover:bg-lvl-2 rounded-t-16px shadow-z1 px-16px py-16px border-t border-x border-t-transparent border-x-transparent border-b-1px border-b-main">
<ul>
<li>The Oklahoma City Thunder are 10-0 in their last 10 games vs. bottom 10 scoring defences. This team does not play with their food. They&#8217;re an animalistic in the sense that they have been an apex predator all season in the association.</li>
<li>The Oklahoma City Thunder are 16-4 against the spread in their last 20 games when favoured. This predator wins decisively.</li>
<li>The over hit in 6 of the Denver Nuggets last 9 games on the road. They are a team that relies on the fast break and high pace for success. The more actions they can get Jokic involved in the better.</li>
<li>Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has exceeded 11.5 RA in 5 of 6 games vs. bottom 10 defences for assists allowed. In those six games he carries averages of 11.8 assists and rebounds.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3><a href="https://affiliates.bettingnews.com/register/betonline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA Best Bet: OKC Thunder 1st Quarter Spread -3.5 (-105)</a></h3>
<p>Trying something new here. Recently tried that with the fouls market and failed. Tail with caution.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://affiliates.bettingnews.com/register/betonline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Place this NBA bet on BetOnline to get 50% Welcome Bonus + 100 FREE SPINS!</a></strong></p>
<div class="mb-2 card d-flex left-cta-box flex-column flex-lg-row justify-content-center justify-content-lg-start align-items-center">
	<div class="p-3 pl-lg-4 bg-left-cta-box text-center">
		<img 
		class="align-self-center w-100 h-100"
		src="https://fantasydataobj.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/books/betonline-logo-194x62.webp" 
		alt="BetOnline Sportsbook logo" />
	</div>
	<div class="px-3 pt-0 pt-lg-3  pt-3 pb-lg-3 text-center text-lg-left w-75">
		<span class="text-dark font-weight-bold mb-2">Up to $250 in Free Bets + 100 Free Spins</span><br />
		<span class="mb-0 text-grey-400 small">First Deposit Bonus</span>
	</div>
	<div class="p-3">
		<a class="btn text-nowrap stretched-link btn-success" role="button" href="https://affiliates.bettingnews.com/register/betonline/" target="_blank" data-event-label="betonline-sportsbook-card" rel="noopener sponsored">Claim Your Bonus »</a>
	</div>
</div>
<h3><strong><a href="https://www.bettingnews.com/tools/outlier-bet-review/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Like the Analysis? Check out our Outlier.Bet review! </a></strong></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Bonus for Peepin&#8217; The Scribbles:</strong> Christian Braun o12.5 Points (-120)</p>
<p>He&#8217;s hit this line in 6 of 8 head-to-head. He&#8217;s from near the area and his style of play is badly needed.</p>
<h3>Thanks for Reading!</h3>
<p><a href="https://x.com/JustSukh">Follow me @JustSukh on X!</a></p>
<p>Also, get the best odds &amp; all the up to date lines right here at Betting News!</p>
<div class="su-list mb-5" style="margin-left:0px">
<ul>
<li><i class="sui sui-check" style="color:#15BB9D"></i> <a href="https://www.bettingnews.com/nfl/picks/">Picks &amp; Odds for the NFL</a></li>
<li><i class="sui sui-check" style="color:#15BB9D"></i> <a href="https://www.bettingnews.com/nfl-betting-guide/">NFL Betting Guide for Beginners </a></li>
<li><i class="sui sui-check" style="color:#15BB9D"></i> <a href="https://www.bettingnews.com/ncaaf/picks/">Pick &amp; Odds for NCAAF</a></li>
<li><i class="sui sui-check" style="color:#15BB9D"></i> <a href="https://www.bettingnews.com/guides/college-football-betting-guide/">NCAAF Betting Guide for Beginners</a></li>
<li><i class="sui sui-check" style="color:#15BB9D"></i> <a href="https://www.bettingnews.com/mlb/picks/">Picks &amp; Odds in the MLB</a></li>
<li><i class="sui sui-check" style="color:#15BB9D"></i> <a href="https://www.bettingnews.com/guides/mlb-betting-guide/">MLB Betting Guide for Beginners</a></li>
<li><i class="sui sui-check" style="color:#15BB9D"></i> <a href="https://www.bettingnews.com/nba/picks/">Picks &amp; Odds in the NBA</a></li>
<li><i class="sui sui-check" style="color:#15BB9D"></i> <a href="https://www.bettingnews.com/guides/nba-betting-guide/">NBA Betting Guide for Beginners</a></li>
<li><i class="sui sui-check" style="color:#15BB9D"></i> <a href="https://www.bettingnews.com/nhl/picks/">Picks &amp; Odds in the NHL</a></li>
<li><i class="sui sui-check" style="color:#15BB9D"></i> <a href="https://www.bettingnews.com/guides/nhl-betting-guide/">NHL Betting Guide for Beginners</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://x.com/YourBettingNews" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Follow us at Betting News</a> for all of our sports betting content &amp; <a href="http://twitch.tv/bettingnews" target="_blank" rel="noopener">streams on Twitch</a> every day as well!</p>
<div class="my-3 card card-body d-flex flex-column flex-lg-row align-items-center" style="background-color: #01337d;">
    <div class="py-3 flex-fill">
        <p class="mb-0 lead text-white text-center text-lg-left font-weight-bold">
            <span style="font-size: 1.15rem;">Get FREE Picks and Props Weekly</span>
            <br><br>
            <span style="font-size: 1rem;">Sign up for</span>
            <br>
            <span style="font-size: 1.15rem;">THE WEEKENDER NEWSLETTER</span>
        </p>
    </div>
    <div>
        <a class="mx-2 btn btn-lg btn-danger stretched-link text-nowrap" role="button" href="https://www.bettingnews.com/newsletter-subscription/" style="padding: .5rem 2rem;width: 300px;margin: 0;">Get FREE Picks</a>
    </div>
</div>
<p>Additionally, looking for a great promo for a new sportsbooks? Check out <a href="https://www.bettingnews.com/best-online-sportsbooks/">all the various sign-up bonuses &amp; reviews</a> we have for numerous sportsbooks, available everywhere!</p>
<h2>Still Here? More NBA Betting Stories</h2>
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.bettingnews.com/articles/nba/2024-25-nba-futures-defensive-player-of-the-year/">NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.bettingnews.com/articles/nba/power-rankings-2024-early-finals-best-bets/">2024-25 NBA Power Rankings</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.bettingnews.com/nba/tips/">NBA Betting Tips</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>


Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with the Thunder and Nuggets logos.

Nuggets vs Thunder NBA Analysis, Odds, and Best Bet (5/5)

Jalen WIlliams slams it home - NBA Finals player props

Best NBA Player Prop for Game 6 of the NBA Finals

NBA Draft 2025: Draft Odds for the No. 2 – No. 10 Picks

Andrew Nembhard making a cheeky face. 2025 NBA Finals Game 6 Odds & Prediction: This Could be the Final Day of the Season...

2025 NBA Finals Game 6 Odds & Prediction: This Could be the Final Day of the Season…

Shai vs. Nembhard ; Canadian brothers - NBA Finals Game 5

2025 NBA Finals Game 5 Odds & Predictions: Thunder Look to Take Control

Desmond Bane, Welcome to Disney World: Did Orlando Find Their Missing Piece?