Game 56 Pregame Primer: Thunder (33-22) vs. Nuggets (38-17)
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ESPN preview
Tip-off:
7pm @ Chesapeake Energy Arena, ? ESPN/Fox Sports Oklahoma
Projected starting lineups:
| Oklahoma City | Denver |
| PG: Chris Paul | PG: Jamal Murray |
| SG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | SG: Gary Harris |
| SF: Lu Dort | SF: Will Barton |
| PF: Danilo Gallinari | PF: Paul Millsap |
| C: Steven Adams | C: Nikola Jokic |
3 Big Things
- Denver averages 14.3 second-chance points per game (4th most in the NBA). In Oklahoma City’s 110-102 loss to Denver earlier this season, the Nuggets out-rebounded the Thunder 44-37 including ten offensive rebounds. Of those ten, seven came from Nuggets perimeter players. Look for OKC’s guards, Shai specifically, to be a factor rebounding the ball.
- Nikola Jokic recorded his fourth triple-double of the season with 28 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists against the Thunder in December. Slowing down Jokic is to slow down the Denver Nuggets. Look for Adams to try taking away his space with better ball pressure away from the basket.
- Starting strong: Oklahoma City dug itself an 18-point hole in the first quarter the last time these teams met. With OKC back home tonight and refreshed from a few days off, we’ll see if they can flip the script on one of the league’s best teams.
