Denver at Oklahoma City

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.