The Denver Nuggets open their 2026-27 NBA season Thursday night on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The matchup features two familiar Western Conference rivals who met in the second round of the 2024-25 playoffs, when Oklahoma City defeated Denver in seven games before going on to win the franchise’s first NBA championship.
The Thunder are already 1-0 this season after defeating the San Antonio Spurs 116-104 on Tuesday night. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 32 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Jared McCain contributed 20 points off the bench, knocking down six of his eight three-point attempts.
Oklahoma City led by as many as 26 points in the first half and took a 65-44 advantage into halftime. San Antonio managed to cut the deficit to single digits in the second half, but the Thunder held on behind SGA and McCain.
The Thunder also limited Victor Wembanyama to just 12 points on 1-13 shooting, although the Spurs superstar finished with 13 rebounds and six blocks.
Denver, meanwhile, is preparing for its first regular season game after a busy offseason that brought several changes to the roster.
The Nuggets added six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan, who averaged 18.4 points per game with Sacramento last season, along with veteran point guard Tyus Jones and forward Marvin Bagley III. Denver also lost Tim Hardaway Jr. in free agency and traded Peyton Watson to Cleveland.
The Nuggets still have their established core intact, led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Cam Johnson are also back as Denver looks to challenge the Spurs and Thunder in the Western Conference.
Nuggets vs. Thunder Odds Today
Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook lists Oklahoma City as an 8.5-point home favorite for Thursday’s matchup:
Nuggets vs. Thunder Prediction
Nuggets +8.5 (-115): Oklahoma City was firing on all cylinders in its season opener against San Antonio, but I think Denver is getting too many points in this matchup.
Denver lost three of its four regular season meetings with Oklahoma City last season, but both games at the Paycom Center were decided by six points or fewer. The Nuggets fell 127-121 in overtime on February 27 before losing another close game, 129-126, on March 9.
Of course, injuries played a role in those results. Denver was without Aaron Gordon in the February matchup, while Oklahoma City was missing several important players, including Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jalen Williams, in March.
Still, the Nuggets have shown they can compete with the Thunder on their home floor, and I expect another competitive game on Thursday night.
With 8.5 points to work with, I’ll take Denver to keep things close in its season opener.
- Best Bet: Denver Nuggets +8.5 (-115)
Nuggets vs. Thunder Betting Splits
- Moneyline: Denver has drawn 57% of all moneyline tickets, but Oklahoma City accounts for 71% of the handle.
- Spread: Nuggets +8.5 has attracted 58% of all spread bets, while Thunder -8.5 has received 74% of the money wagered.
- Total: Under 235.5 accounts for 52% of all total wagers and 60% of the handle.
Popular Player Props for DEN-OKC
Christian Braun surprisingly leads the way for Thursday’s most-bet player props:
- Christian Braun – Over 14.5 Points + Rebounds
- Nikola Jokic – Under 26.5 Points
- Nikola Jokic – Yes Triple Double
- Jared McCain – Over 9.5 Points
- Aaron Gordon – Over 18.5 Points + Rebounds
Nuggets vs. Thunder Game Info
- đź“Ť Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
- đź“… Date: Thursday, October 22, 2026
- ⏰ Tipoff: 9:30 PM ET
- đź“ş TV/Streaming: ESPN
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