The Denver Nuggets (37-22) will visit the Oklahoma City Thunder (45-15) for a heavyweight NBA showdown on Friday night. Tipoff from the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City is set for 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The Thunder are 7.5-point favorites over the Nuggets on the spread (Thunder -7.5), with the over/under set at 234.5 total points. Oklahoma City is a -278 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Denver is +225 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Nuggets vs. Thunder predictions and NBA picks for Friday, February 27.
Nuggets vs Thunder Prediction
- Nuggets vs Thunder pick: Cason Wallace Over 1.5 Steals (-140)
My Thunder vs. Nuggets best bet is on Cason Wallace to record over 1.5 steals. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Denver Nuggets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Odds
| Nuggets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -115 | 234.5 -115o / -105u | +225 |
| Thunder Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -105 | 234.5 -115o / -105u | -278 |
Nuggets vs Thunder NBA Friday Preview
The Thunder are getting healthier — and quite frankly, it's about time.
The Thunder have powered through a number of key injuries this season and still maintain the top record in the Western Conference.
At 45-15, the Thunder are now only 1.5 games ahead of the second-place Spurs for the top spot in the conference. Meanwhile, the Nuggets trail by 7.5 games, now in fourth place.
We could be staring into a preview of the Western Conference Semifinals with this one, whether it's the 1-4 or 2-3 matchup — or the Western Conference Finals, if the bracket shakes out differently.
However, that would require winning consistently, which both teams have uncharacteristically struggled to do.
The Nuggets are just 4-6 in their last 10 games; the Thunder are just 8-7 in their last 15.
As far as injuries go, Oklahoma City once again provides a loaded report.
The good news is that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is off the report and expected to play tonight. However, Jalen Williams (hamstring) and Ajay Mitchell (ankle) are out for the Thunder.
Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Peyton Watson (hamstring) are out for the Nuggets, while Jamal Murray (illness) and Jalen Pickett (knee) are listed as questionable. Julian Strawther (toe) is probable.
Nuggets vs Thunder Picks, Betting Predictions
Cason Wallace has recorded two or more steals in seven of his last 11 games and will continue to play big minutes with SGA back.
Wallace has logged over 30 minutes per game through those 11 games, and while much of that was without the reigning MVP in the lineup, he was still starting and playing significant minutes prior to SGA's injury.
Wallace's recent play entitles him to more playing time, and he is always a candidate to record a crazy amount of steals on any given night.
He recorded two steals in the Thunder's matchup against the Nuggets earlier this month.
Nuggets vs Thunder Best Bet
- Cason Wallace Over 1.5 Steals (-140)
For the latest on NBA injuries, be sure to check out our NBA Injury Report page.
