The Oklahoma City Thunder have been one of the NBA’s most exciting stories this season, but a wave of injuries is starting to test the limits of their title hopes. And with the playoffs creeping closer, the conversation around the Western Conference contenders is starting to shift - especially after Denver’s recent stretch without Nikola Jokic.
On a recent episode of his podcast, Bill Simmons - never shy about sharing where he stands on the title race - made it clear he’s no longer riding solo with OKC at the top. Instead, he’s moved the Denver Nuggets into that top tier alongside the Thunder, largely because of what the defending champs have shown during Jokic’s absence.
“I used to have OKC as the sole favorite,” Simmons said. “I have now moved Denver into that group together, partly because this no-(Nikola Jokic) run was so important for their young guys.
I mean, (Peyton) Watson in January is averaging 23 and six a game... I just think you can’t put a price on that.”
It’s hard to argue with the logic. Denver has gone 9-6 without their two-time MVP, and they haven’t exactly been beating up on bottom-feeders.
They’ve logged statement wins over the Celtics, Raptors, Sixers, and most recently, the Bucks. Jamal Murray has taken the reins, averaging a scorching 27.8 points and 8.5 assists during that stretch, reminding everyone just how dangerous he can be when fully unleashed.
But the real story here isn’t just about Murray - it’s about the emergence of Denver’s bench. Peyton Watson has been a revelation, Jalen Pickett has made the most of his minutes, Zeke Nnaji has flashed real potential, and third-year forward Julian Strawther just dropped 20 in a win over Milwaukee. All of this has come while Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun have been sidelined.
Despite the injuries, Denver sits third in the West with a 31-16 record. And more importantly, they’re showing the kind of depth and resilience that championship teams are built on.
Meanwhile, the Thunder are navigating their own injury storm - and not quite as smoothly. With key contributors like Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell out of the lineup, OKC has struggled to find consistent production beyond Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. And when SGA sits, their offense grinds to a halt.
Aaron Wiggins, who had been a reliable spark, has only topped 13 points once since J-Dub went down. Isaiah Joe has been streaky from deep, and Kenrich Williams - who looked like he might be ready to shoulder a bigger scoring load - managed just three points in a low-scoring win over the Pelicans.
That’s the contrast Simmons is pointing to. In January, Denver’s role players stepped up.
OKC’s? Not so much.
And that’s a problem for a team with championship aspirations.
It’s a bit of a role reversal from last year’s playoffs, when the Thunder outlasted a banged-up Nuggets squad in a gritty seven-game Western Conference Semifinals. Back then, it was OKC’s depth - Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Wiggins, Joe - that made the difference. Denver, on the other hand, leaned heavily on their starters, with little help from the bench.
But this season, the script has flipped. Denver’s young guns are growing up fast, and their bench is suddenly looking like a real asset. If they can get healthy in time for the postseason, they could be the team with the deeper rotation - and that’s a scary thought for the rest of the West.
The good news? We won’t have to wait long to get a taste of what a playoff rematch might look like.
The Thunder and Nuggets are set to square off in just a few days. And with both teams still battling injuries, it could be a showcase for the very role players who might swing a future series.
For now, the Thunder still have time to get healthy and rediscover the bench magic that carried them last spring. But Denver’s making it clear - they’re not just Jokic and Murray anymore. They’re deeper, tougher, and maybe even better prepared for a postseason run than they were a year ago.