The Thunder are back at Paycom Center on Thursday night, and the matchup comes with plenty of attention right away: Oklahoma City opens at home against Denver at 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.
OKC already has one win in the books after beating the San Antonio Spurs 116-104 on the road Tuesday. Denver, meanwhile, is playing its first game of the season after being bounced in the first round of last year’s playoffs.
For fans wondering how to follow along, the game is set for Thursday, Oct. 22, at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. ESPN will carry the television broadcast, and Fubo offers an online option with a free trial.
BetMGM listed the Thunder as 8.5-point favorites as of Wednesday, Oct. 21. The over/under sits at 235.5, with Oklahoma City at -300 on the moneyline and Denver at +240.
Justin Martinez picked the Thunder to win 122-114, pointing to Oklahoma City’s length and what it did against Victor Wembanyama in the opener. He also noted the challenge Nikola Jokic always presents, but said the Thunder’s trio of 7-footers - Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Aday Mara - should make things difficult. On the other end, he pointed to Denver having fewer options to slow Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with Peyton Watson no longer there.
Injury reports also matter heading into tipoff. For Oklahoma City, Otega Oweh remains out after right Achilles tendon repair surgery, Thomas Sorber is out following right knee surgery, and Nikola Topić is out after low back surgery. Denver listed Spencer Jones as questionable with bilateral hamstring injury management, while Julian Strawther is out with a left knee sprain.
The expected Thunder starters are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. Denver’s projected lineup features Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic.
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The Nuggets season opener against Oklahoma City already had a little extra edge, and now it comes with another subplot for Thunder fans to track. Denver has listed Spencer Jones as questionable because of bilateral hamstring injury management, while guard Julian Strawther is out with a left knee sprain, adding another layer of uncertainty to a game that will open the regular season spotlight between two teams with plenty of familiarity.
For the Thunder, the injury picture is familiar in its own way, with Otega Oweh, Thomas Sorber and Nikola Topic all sidelined as they continue recovering from surgeries. Jones is the name to watch here, especially given how this matchup has taken on added offseason context, and his status could affect how Denver lines up when the ball goes up for a game that already had plenty of attention around it. [Read more 🡒]
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Maras last outing offered a glimpse of why Oklahoma City is interested in his development, but it also came with a reminder that opportunity can be fleeting. His minutes were limited, and there is no guarantee he gets the same kind of runway against Denver, where the Thunder may need to balance his growth against the realities of facing one of the leagues most demanding stars. [Read more 🡒]
Aday Mara Just Gave The Thunder A Real Frontcourt Decision
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Isaiah Hartenstein, one of Oklahoma Citys veterans in the middle, has pointed out that the league is trending toward more double-big lineups, a shift that could open the door for Mara to carve out real minutes. The matchup only added to the intrigue, with Mara also making life difficult for Victor Wembanyama in a way that should keep the Thunder thinking about how they want to deploy their size going forward. [Read more 🡒]