Nuggets-Thunder Game 1 preview: MVP candidates clash in OKC

The Denver Nuggets have advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals for the sixth time in seven years and will take on the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, who are well rested after sweeping their first round opponent. Here's everything you need to know for Monday night's clash between MVP candidates

BY TRENT FINNEGAN

May 5, 2025, 9:27 AM Updated: May 7, 2025, 1:06 pm

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The Denver Nuggets have advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals for the sixth time in the last seven seasons after a dominant Game 7 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday. Their reward? The 72-14 Oklahoma City Thunder who just had one of the most dominant sweeps in NBA history in their first round matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies.

These division foes squared off four times this season, with each side winning two games apiece. For Denver, the traditional starting five only played in two of the four games in the regular season, losing both times. Depth will be the name of the game, as the Thunder have arguably the deepest roster in the entire NBA while the Nuggets have one of the top-heaviest teams in the association.

This will also be a matchup of the top two MVP candidates as Nikola Jokic chases his fourth in five years, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander eyes the first of his career.

For an in-depth analysis of the series, read here.

How to watch Game 1 of Nuggets-Thunder

Game 1 from Oklahoma City will be broadcast on TNT and TruTV with the opening tip scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Denver time. It will also be streamed on MAX.

Odds for Game 1 of Nuggets-Thunder

Spread/Total: Nuggets +9.5, 225.5

Moneyline: Nuggets +340, Thunder -430

Nikola Jokic to record a triple-double: +120

In the four matchups these foes played in the regular season, at least 230 points were scored in three of them. When they met to open the season in Denver way back in October, there were only 189 points scored in total as both teams were getting out of the preseason mindset and into a regular season-mode.

The Thunder were favored in the final three regular season matchups. They covered the spread in their respective wins while the Nuggets did the same. Given how much rest Oklahoma City has compared to how little Denver has, the oddsmakers are thinking that Denver will come out flat to open the series.

Projected starting lineups for Game 1 of Nuggets-Thunder

Nuggets
G: Jamal Murray
G: Christian Braun
F: Michael Porter Jr.
F: Aaron Gordon
C: Nikola Jokic

Thunder
G: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
G: Lugentz Dort
F: Jalen Williams
F: Chet Holmgren
C: Isaiah Hartenstein

Injury notes/report for Game 1 of Nuggets-Thunder

Nuggets
Michael Porter Jr. and Russell Westbrook are off the injury report for Denver, even though both are still battling through the injuries that have held them back throughout the series.

As always, DaRon Holmes II rounds out Denver’s injury report, as he is still rehabbing the Achilles tendon he tore back in the NBA Summer League.

Thunder
The Thunder injury report is about as clean as can be. The only player who is out for the No. 1 seed is Nikola Topic, who is rehabbing from a torn ACL.

Referees for Game 1 of Nuggets-Thunder

Crew Chief: John Goble (#10)
Referee: Josh Tiven (#58)
Umpire: Karl Lane (#77)
Alternate: Brett Barnaky (#36)
Replay Center: Brian Forte

What to watch for in Game 1 of Nuggets-Thunder

The bench minutes, and how much gas the Nuggets starting five has in the tank. Four of the Nuggets’ five starters played over 38 minutes per game in the opening round, while the Thunder didn’t have a single player go over 35 minutes per game. When the end of the first quarter/start of the second quarter hits and it’s time to look to the bench, the Nuggets only have three guys they can look to for relief, while the Thunder have five that they can utilize.

For Denver, the bench had a negative plus-minus in the two losses and a positive one in the wins. While the starters held their ground in three of the games, the difference, just like with every other game in the Jokic era, is how the bench performs. David Adelman shrunk the bench in the opening round against the Clippers, only giving minutes to Peyton Watson, DeAndre Jordan and Russell Westbrook. With the great depth and size of the Thunder, could this be a series for him to expand the bench, or possibly shrink it even more?