The Oklahoma City Thunder travel to the ‘Mile HIgh City’ to play the Denver Nuggets today on TNT. This is a divisional match between two teams that were at the top of the Western Conference last year. The Thunder outpaced the Nuggets, and secured first of the division and conference on the last regular season game. 

This year they start off the season playing against each other, and still have three more games throughout the season. This was already a rivalry, but both teams are legitimate title contenders for the third year in a row. As much as certain media outlets want to portray the rivalry to be between the Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers, it is actually the Nuggets versus the Thunder. It will be the rivalry of the decade. 

 

 

 

3 MVPs in OKC?

The Thunder had a roaring start to the century with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, and if that was the lighting, the 2024-25 team is the Thunder. They improved on their weakness with signing Isaiah Hartenstein. Shaivonte Gilgeous-Alexander received MVP votes last season, and is a favorite for some to win the prestigious award this year.

If Gilgeous-Alexander could carry his team to another first place finish, and have the stats to back it up he would be hard to deny. After all, the MVP voters have already shown their reluctance to award Nikola Jokic a deserving title due to voter fatigueness. Should Gilgegous-Alexander win, it would be the third time a Thunder player won the award. Not bad for one of the youngest franchises in the league. His odds to be MVP are currently +400, the second lowest.

Expect a great game for their leading MVP candidate with the support group doing their job. Be it rebounding, defense, setting screens, or all the unmentioned work that goes into making a team great. 

 

 

 

Oklahoma City Thunder Starting Lineup:

 

 

 

The Hunted become the Hunters

The Denver Nuggets were eliminated in a game 7 of the Western Conference Divisional Round  in which they allowed a 20 point second-half comeback by the Minnesota Timberwolves. They realized they needed some help to bring Larry O’Brien back, and moved up in the draft to select DaRon Holmes II. A player almost guaranteed to be a star and an excellent strategy by the Nuggets. Then he was injured and out for the season before getting into the preseason.

This forced the 2023 NBA Champions to make more moves. They added great depth pieces in Dario Saric and Russell Westbrook. Already their bench is more experienced and deeper than last year, which was a major problem. Russell Westbrook will be unleashed like we haven’t seen since his time with the Washington Wizards.

Denver also secured their ‘big four’, ensuring to get the most out of their championship window while they have the best player in the world. Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., Jamal Murray, and Nikola Jokic are all secured through the 2026-27 season. 

The reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic, looks in great shape after leading the Serbian men's basketball team to a bronze medal this summer. He played so well that he had +/- of 0 against team USA, and almost took down one of the best assembled basketball teams of all-time. 

He is a leader, a king of the court if you will, and right now Draftkings has a special boost for ‘King of the Court’. The leader of points, rebounds, and assists (or PRA), and if you bet on the player with the highest total you win a free bet. Tonight we ride the MVP to do just that.

 

 

 

Nikola Jokic Over 47.5 PRA (Boosted to +116 on DraftKings)

Make sure to opt into the promotion, and if you do not have DraftKings make sure to click our promotion to get $200 FREE after a $5 bet. 

Nikola Jokic is a special player, he has criticized his team’s play during the preseason and he is a leader by example. Yesterday’s PRA leader was LaMelo Ball and people that chose him earned a free bet over $1,000. YES A FREE BET OVER $1,000! It breaks down by a million dollars divided by the number of people to choose the correct person.

With the Boston Celtics squad, Victory Wembanyama, and Luka Doncic there is a lot of competition, but also an opportunity for a higher dollar amount return should Jokic be the leader. Trust the best player of this decade to play with effort against a young, thin center in Chet Holmgren, and a team without 3 of its 4 rostered centers.

 

 

 

Russell Westbrook 5+ Assist (Alternate line) +135 on DraftKings

Russell Westbrook is smiling, joking, talking noise to his teammates, and looks like he is happy again. Something we didn’t see during his tenure with either the Los Angeles Lakers or Los Angeles Clippers. You could say it was not the homecoming he hoped for. Enter the Denver Nuggets who seeked him in a trade per several players' requests.

Now he’s on a team that wants him, that knows how to utilize him and will depend on him for not only his elite perimeter defense, but also his skills as a court general. One of those skills is passing, which the triple-double machine is great at. 

Last year was the first time in 11 seasons that he averaged less than six assists per game, and he wasn’t being utilized correctly. Look for him to feed off the slamming Aaron Gordon, and find the post up scorers of Michael Porter Jr., Jamal Murray, and Julain Stawther.

 

 

 

Denver Nuggets Starting Lineup:

Get ready for an amazing battle between two elite teams tonight. Two teams in the Northwest Division, and as crazy as it sounds, the first game of the season could be the deciding factor for who earns first place in the Western Conference.

 

 



Bet Smart, Be Lucky -Iggy-