As the Western Conference semifinals unfold starting Monday, basketball fans are eagerly anticipating the showdown between the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets.
This thrilling contest pits the Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14, 4-0 in the playoffs) against the Denver Nuggets (50-32, 4-3). The regular season saw them evenly matched, each team winning two games apiece.
The series schedule commences with Game 1 in Oklahoma City on Monday, followed by Game 2 at the same venue on Wednesday. The action then shifts to Denver for Game 3 on Friday and Game 4 on Sunday. If necessary, the series will move back to Oklahoma City for Game 5, then potentially return to Denver for Game 6, and finally conclude in Oklahoma City with Game 7, should it be required.
The Thunder secured their place in this semifinal round with a clean sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies, enjoying a significant rest period since wrapping up their series on April 26. On the other hand, the Nuggets had a strenuous journey, battling the Los Angeles Clippers through seven grueling games, concluding with a decisive 120-101 victory at home just a day before entering this series.
This matchup brings a compelling storyline with the anticipated clash between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, the expected frontrunners for the NBA MVP title. Jokic, who joined an elite group by averaging a triple-double over the season, posted impressive numbers against the Thunder, averaging 24.5 points, 15.8 rebounds, and 11.5 assists per game. Meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander, this season’s top scorer, averaged 32.7 points per game and maintained a solid 30.3 against Denver.
A key aspect of this series will be the performance of Oklahoma City’s duo, Lu Dort and Gilgeous-Alexander, against Denver’s Jamal Murray. The trio of guards will be central in influencing the extent of scoring support Jokic can rely on from his teammate. Notably, Murray struggled in the Thunder’s victories, shooting 10 for 30 and averaging 14.5 points per game, yet he demonstrated his potential by scoring 34 points when Denver triumphed in Oklahoma City on March 10. Oklahoma City also has the advantage of bringing Alex Caruso off the bench to contend with Murray.
An intriguing element to watch is Russell Westbrook’s performance. Once a consistently high performer as an All-Star and MVP for the Thunder, Westbrook’s contributions have become unpredictable. His fluctuating statistics against Oklahoma City reflect this: scoring just six points on opening night, then exploding with 29 points when Denver broke Oklahoma City’s eight-game winning streak early in the season, only to falter with a mere four-point showing in a subsequent matchup. He concluded the regular-season encounters with a steady 16 points in a Denver victory.
Taking into account various dynamics and past performances, the prediction leans towards the Oklahoma City Thunder prevailing in five games.