The Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder are headed to a game seven after the Nuggets stayed alive with their game six victory. The Nuggets came into this series as +500 underdogs to advance, and it is already impressive that they have pushed this series to seven games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic are the two MVP favorites, and they are set to put on an absolute show on Sunday afternoon. Oklahoma City will be confident they can hold home court advantage with a crucial victory, while the Nuggets will look to their game one victory as inspiration for them to take down OKC on the road. The NBA odds are set, and now is the best time to take advantage of the free expert NBA predictions with NBA predictions of your own.
Matchup: Nuggets vs Thunder Overview
- Teams: Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder
- Date: Sunday, May 18th, 2025
- Time: Tip-off is at 3:30 PM EST (2:30 PM local time)
- Venue: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Looking for more NBA matchup insights? Don’t miss our prediction for the upcoming Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks Prediction game.
Win Probabilities:
The NBA win probabilities have given the Oklahoma City Thunder a significant advantage, assigning them a 65.69% chance of winning this NBA game. Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets have the playoff experience advantage and still have a 34.31% chance of winning the game and series, according to the NBA win probabilities.
Projected Final Score:
The projected final score for the Nuggets vs. Thunder matchup has been generated using expert NBA predictions in combination with insights from recent games. Both teams’ seasons are on the line, and the projected final score is Oklahoma City Thunder 107-102 Denver Nuggets.
Nuggets vs Thunder Odds
The NBA odds have made the Oklahoma City Thunder significant home favorites in this game seven matchup. Their dominant regular season play, combined with their truly elite defense, makes this no surprise, although a seven point spread is quite a healthy expected margin of victory.
| Denver Nuggets | Oklahoma City Thunder | |
| Moneyline | +215 | -320 |
| Spread | +7 (-118) | -7 (-125) |
| Total | Over 212.5 Points (-120) | Under 212.5 Points (-120) |
Expert Prediction: Who Will Win?
Why the Denver Nuggets Could Win
In the NBA playoffs, having the best player on the court is a great way to put a team in a position to win on a nightly basis. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may go on to win the MVP award this season, but Nikola Jokic is still the best player in the league. Jokic finished in the top three for PPG, Assists, and Rebounds this season and became the first player in NBA history to do so. His effortless work on the offensive end is truly mesmerizing to watch, as he can shred apart an offense from any point on the floor.
The Nuggets will need to match the Thunder’s defensive intensity if they are to win this game. Denver has a much shorter rotation compared to Oklahoma City, and they will need to battle fatigue in game seven. Oklahoma City has the better defense, and if the Nuggets cannot rise to the occasion, their season will be over. Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon have had one of the best series of their respective careers against Oklahoma City, and their help on both ends of the court has been crucial. Jokic may be the best player on the court, but basketball is still a team game, and the rest of the Nuggets’ supporting cast must step up on both ends of the court.
Why the Oklahoma City Thunder Could Win
The Oklahoma City Thunder were the best team in the NBA in the regular season, and they will be confident that they can assert their dominance against the Nuggets in this game seven showdown. Oklahoma City has the best defense in the league and has done a good job of slowing down Nikola Jokic. They will need to keep their defensive gaze firmly locked on the Serbian superstar in game seven, as he will touch the basketball on nearly every offensive possession.
For the Thunder on offense, they will go through Gilgeous-Alexander. The young Canadian is on track to win his first MVP award of his career after leading the league in PPG this season. His ability to drive into the paint and score from under the hoop is like that of few other players in the league. Gilgeous-Alexander hasn’t been getting to the free-throw line as often as in the regular season, but he has made up for it with strong playmaking and hard-nosed defense.
Most NBA teams use a 7 or 8-man rotation in the NBA playoffs, but the Thunder have been consistently using 9 or 10 players on a nightly basis. This team is full of young talent, and no one player will win or lose this game for Oklahoma City. Nine players are scoring 5+ PPG in the playoffs, but the one man they are missing is Jalen Williams. Williams was the second-top scorer behind Gilgeous-Alexander in the regular season, but he has disappeared in the playoffs. The Thunder’s depth has allowed them to stay afloat without him, but their game seven hopes could hinge on his shooting on the offensive end of the court.
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