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A pair of the NBA’s top scorers — Nikola Jokic (10th, 27.2 points per game) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (fourth, 31.0) — square off when the Denver Nuggets (17-9) host the Oklahoma City Thunder (15-8) on December 16, 2023 on ALT.
The Nuggets are a 5-point favorite against the Thunder when the Nuggets and the Thunder meet. The game features an over/under of 237.5.
Nuggets vs. Thunder Odds
Point Spread for Nuggets vs. Thunder
The spread for this matchup is set at 5 points, with bookmakers listing the Nuggets as the favorite.
Denver vs. Oklahoma City Moneyline
As for the moneyline, Denver has -192 odds to win the game, while Oklahoma City is listed at +160 to claim victory.
Over/Under
Finally, the total for the game is set at 237.5 points.
Game Time and How to Watch
- When: Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 9:00 PM ET
- Where: Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado
- TV: ALT
Nuggets vs. Thunder Betting Trends
The Nuggets have covered the spread 11 times over 26 games with a set spread. This season, Denver has been favored 23 times and won 16, or 69.6%, of those games. This season, 11 of the Nuggets’ games have gone over the point total out of 23 chances.
The Thunder have put together a record of 15-7-1 against the spread this season. Oklahoma City has been chosen as underdogs in 10 games this year and has walked away with the win five times (50%) in those games. Thunder games have gone over the total 13 times this season.
Nuggets vs. Thunder Key Players to Watch
Nuggets
Jokic’s numbers for the season are 27.2 points, 9.4 assists and 12.7 boards per contest. Michael Porter Jr. posts 16.7 points, 7.9 boards and 1.6 assists per game. At the other end, he averages 0.5 steals and 0.8 blocks. Aaron Gordon’s numbers for the season are 12.9 points, 7.0 boards and 3.5 assists per game, shooting 50.0% from the field. Reggie Jackson is putting up 13.6 points, 4.6 assists and 2.2 boards per game.
Thunder
Gilgeous-Alexander’s averages for the season are 31.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.4 assists, making 54.6% of his shots from the field and 33.3% from 3-point range, with 1.1 triples per contest. Chet Holmgren adds 16.9 points per game, plus 8.0 boards and 2.4 assists. The Thunder receive 12.0 points, 6.1 boards and 4.4 assists per game from Josh Giddey. Jalen Williams averages 17.2 points, 4.2 boards and 3.7 assists, making 49.6% of his shots from the field and 36.2% from 3-point range, with 1.1 triples per contest.
What you need to know about the Nuggets
With 114.6 points per game on offense, the Nuggets rank 14th in the NBA. At the other end of the court, they surrender 110.5 points per contest, which ranks sixth in the league. The Nuggets are averaging 44.5 boards per game (12th-ranked in NBA) this season, while allowing 43.0 rebounds per contest (ninth-ranked). The Nuggets have been racking up assists in 2023-24, ranking second-best in the NBA with 29.7 dimes per game.
In home games, Denver is putting up 10.2 more points per game (120.5) than it is in road games (110.3). Denver ranks 23rd in the NBA with 11.6 threes per game this season. Meanwhile, it ranks 15th with a 36.8% shooting percentage from downtown. Denver ranks fourth-best in the NBA by giving up 11.2 three-pointers per game. In terms of three-point percentage allowed, it ranks 11th in the league at 35.9%.
The Nuggets are 6-3-1 against the spread and 7-3 overall over their last 10 games. Denver has hit the over in six of its last 10 outings. The Nuggets have seen an uptick in scoring lately, putting up 119.0 points per game in their last 10 contests, 4.4 points more than the 114.6 they’ve scored this season. Denver’s defense has been less stingy as of late, as the team has allowed 113.6 points per game during its last 10 compared to the 110.5 points per game its opponents average on the season.
What you need to know about the Thunder
In 2023-24, the Thunder are fifth-best in the league offensively (120.5 points scored per game) and ranked 12th defensively (113.5 points allowed). In 2023-24, Oklahoma City is fifth-worst in the league in rebounds (41.1 per game) and second-worst in rebounds conceded (46.8). The Thunder are 21st in the league in assists (25.4 per game) in 2023-24.
The Thunder score 123.8 points per game at home, and 116.9 away. Beyond the arc, the Thunder are 13th in the league in 3-pointers made per game (12.8). They are second-best in 3-point percentage at 38.7%. Giving up 13.7 3-pointers per game and conceding 35.4% from beyond the arc, Oklahoma City is 24th and eighth in the NBA, respectively, in those categories.
The Thunder have gone 6-4 in their past 10 games, with a 5-4-1 record against the spread in that span. Seven of Oklahoma City’s last 10 games have gone over the total. Oklahoma City has played better offensively over its last 10 games, tallying 123.1 points per contest, 2.6 more than its season average of 120.5. While the Thunder are giving up 113.5 points per game in 2023-24, they have been worse in their previous 10 games, allowing 115.0 points per contest.
Nuggets vs. Thunder Prediction & Pick
Our prediction to win this game is Nuggets, and we project that Thunder will cover the spread (Nuggets -5). Finally, we see the scoring in this one going under the posted total of 237.5 points.
How to bet Nuggets vs. Thunder
You can bet on Denver vs. Oklahoma City at every legal online sportsbook. For more college basketball odds, including moneylines, spreads, over/under totals, check out the latest NCAA lines as well as our guide to the best college basketball betting sites.
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