Plenty of championship hopefuls were blown out in their NBA openers and the odds suggest the same fate awaits Nikola Jokic's Denver Nuggets at the Paycom Center.
Denver take on early title favorites Oklahoma City and it is no surprise that the Thunder are such a short price after their impressive 116-104 win at Victor Wembanyama;s San Antonio Spurs.
This Thursday night tussle makes for an intriguing affair, one in which the Nuggets could spring a surprise.
Nuggets vs. Thunder betting picks and predictions
Denver Nuggets +8.5 @ -112
The Thunder are hot favorites for both this game and the championship after their opening-night victory over 2026 runners-up San Antonio, however, there is much more to like about Denver than the odds would have you think.
The Nuggets made some smart moves in the off-season, bringing in DeMar DeRozan and Marvin Bagley III to fill some glaring holes in their bench unit, as well as rookie Trevon Brazile.
He looks to have a bright future in the NBA after knocking down 80 per cent of his shots and racking up 22 points in a preseason win over the Clippers.
When the playoffs come around, OKC might be the team to beat, but asking them to go again against a talented Nuggets team so soon after digging deep in San Antonio means they are too short a price.
Last season, Denver won 18 of their 23 games with Thursday’s projected starting five - Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson, Aaron Gordon and Jokic - while they also lost only one of their four meetings with OKC by more than nine points.
Take the Nuggets, led by Jokic and his sensational skillset that is sure to trouble an out-of-sorts Chet Holmgren, to keep it close at the very least.
Under 235.5 total points @ -112
OKC's star man, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, needed 27 shots to score 32 points against the Spurs. That shows the rustiness that comes with the early part of a season and it would be a major surprise to see this line hit.
The Thunder's games in 2025-26 averaged only 226.9 points, while just two of the pair's last 10 meetings have produced more than 236 points. The under is the pick.
Nikola Jokic over 10.5 assists @ +110
Holmgren's continuing struggles mean taking Jokic to dominate - as he so often does - is a smart move.
Denver's Serbian superstar averaged a career-high 10.7 assists last season and, with the Nuggets' targeting scorers rather than playmakers in the off-season, Jokic is sure to do most of their creation again.
His last two matches against the Thunder saw him rack up 13 and 14 assists, so there is no reason Joker can't notch 11 here.
Read more betting picks and predictions for the NBA on site.
Nuggets vs. Thunder odds
Denver Nuggets | +265 |
Oklahoma City Thunder | -330 |
Spread | OKC Thunder -8.5 |
Total Points | 235.5 |
Nuggets vs. Thunder player props
Player points
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC Thunder) | O/U 29.5 |
Nikola Jokic (DEN Nuggets) | O/U 26.5 |
Jamal Murray (DEN Nuggets) | O/U 21.5 |
Jalen Williams (OKC Thunder) | O/U 18.5 |
Aaron Gordon (DEN Nuggets) | O/U 14.5 |
Chet Holmgren (OKC Thunder) | O/U 13.5 |
Nuggets vs. Thunder Team News
Julian Strawther is out for the Nuggets, who also have doubts surrounding Spencer Jones.
Head coach David Adelman has been vocal in his plans to start the campaign with a 10-man or even 11-man rotation, although he may change that against a top side and with one or two of that pair missing.
Otega Oweh, Thomas Sorber and Nikola Topic miss out for the Thunder, but all of their main stars are available.
Read the latest NBA news on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
