Denver Nuggets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Point Spread Picks

The timing is bad for Denver to be playing Oklahoma City today. Not only are the Thunder off a 124-116 loss to the Pistons, but they are getting back superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He has been out since Feb. 3 because of an abdominal strain. The reigning MVP, Gilgeous-Alexander, is the second-highest scorer in the NBA at 31.8 points a game. The Thunder and their home crowd are going to be excited and fired up having him back. Oklahoma City still has managed to post the best record in the Western Conference at 45-15 despite not having Gilgeous-Alexander for nine games. Denver is 37-22. Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 34 points in the Thunder's 121-111 road win against the Nuggets in the first meeting between the two teams this season on Feb. 1. Oklahoma City is the fourth-highest scoring team in the league and gives up the second-fewest points per game at 108. The Nuggets permit 117.8 points a game, which ranks 17th. The Nuggets are without Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson, who average 17.7 ppg and 14.9 ppg, respectively, and may be without Jamal Murray, who averages 25.1 points per game. Murray is questionable due to illness. Take the Thunder.

After missing 16 games this season due to a hyperextended left knee, Nikola Jokić returned to the Nuggets lineup this past Friday and led them to an impressive, 122-109, home victory against the Clippers. Jokić's return energized Denver. Now, though, the Nuggets might be a little less jacked up in Jokic's second game back even though they are playing the defending champion Thunder. Jokić is on a minutes restriction as he builds up his stamina. The Nuggets still remain without at least two starters. Cameron Johnson and Aaron Gordon are out. Christian Braun is doubtful. The Thunder should be fully focused following a 123-111 road loss to the Timberwolves this past Thursday as 5.5-point favorites. Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ranks right near Jokić as the best player in the NBA. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 32 points a game, second-best in the league. Take the Thunder.

The regular season seedings haven't meant much in these playoffs. No. 1-seeded Cleveland: gone. Defending champion Boston: upset by the Knicks. Now No. 1 seed Oklahoma City finds itself playing a Game 7 against a Denver squad that won the NBA title two years ago. The Nuggets also have a superstar in Nikola Jokić. Denver is on an 8-2-1 ATS run and has won three games in this series as an underdog. They won, 119-107, as a +5.5 dog, won 113-104, as a +6 underdog, and on this floor, 121-119, as a +10.5 dog. The veteran visitors have more than enough talent, defense, and confidence to win again. Play Denver on the moneyline.