Thunder Vs Nuggets

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder are set to commence their second-round series in the 2025 NBA Playoffs against Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. The Thunder, who secured the top seed in the Western Conference with a franchise-best 68–14 record, have had over a week of rest after sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. In contrast, the Nuggets are coming off a grueling seven-game series, having just one day off following their Game 7 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night .

Oklahoma City enters the second round as the favorite to win the NBA title, with odds of +170 at FanDuel Sportsbook. They are also the leading contenders in the Western Conference, holding -160 odds to advance to the NBA Finals . The Thunder's impressive performance this season, including clinching the Maurice Podoloff Trophy for the best regular-season record, has solidified their status as championship favorites .

In the other Western Conference semifinal, the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves are facing the seventh-seeded Golden State Warriors. This marks only the third time in NBA history that a sixth seed is playing a seventh seed in the Conference Semifinals .

The matchup between the Thunder and Nuggets is particularly notable, featuring two of the league's top MVP candidates in Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokić. Their previous encounter saw Gilgeous-Alexander lead Oklahoma City to a decisive victory, scoring 40 points and showcasing his leadership on both ends of the court . As the series begins, fans can anticipate a high-stakes battle between these two elite teams vying for a spot in the Western Conference Finals.