Thunder’s preferred matchup: Clippers or Nuggets?
For The Hoops crew discuss whether the Thunder would prefer to face the Clippers or Nuggets in the second round of the NBA playoffs
The No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder and No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets play in the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs starting May 5.
Who will win the series and advance to the Western Conference finals?
Check out these NBA playoffs series picks and predictions for the Western Conference semifinal matchup.
The Thunder are -800 to win the series in NBA playoffs odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook. The Nuggets are +550.
The Thunder winning in five games is at +185 in odds for the outcome of the series. Oklahoma City is at +400 to win in six games, +400 to win in seven games and +400 to win in four games.
The Nuggets are +1300 to beat the Thunder in six games, +1650 to win in seven games, +4000 to win in five games and +8000 to sweep Oklahoma City.
NBA playoffs series picks, predictions, odds: Cavaliers vs Heat | Celtics vs Magic | Knicks vs Pistons | Pacers vs Bucks | Thunder vs Grizzlies | Rockets vs Warriors | Lakers vs Timberwolves | Nuggets vs Clippers | NBA championship odds | Game odds | NBA playoff bracket
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The Oklahoman: Thunder will beat Nuggets in six games
Justin Martinez writes: “Denver has the best player in the world in Nikola Jokic. Still, these playoffs have shown that the team with the best player doesn’t always win. OKC is more versatile with no shortage of strong defenders to throw at Jokic and Jamal Murray. It’s also deeper with players such as Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins coming off the bench. And it even has star power of its own with an All-Star duo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. OKC is the better team, and it’ll win this series in six.”
NBA playoffs series schedules, TV channels: Heat vs Cavaliers | Magic vs Celtics | Pistons vs Knicks | Bucks vs Pacers | Grizzlies vs Thunder | Warriors vs Rockets | Timberwolves vs Lakers | Clippers vs Nuggets | Daily schedule | First-round matchups
Bleacher Report: Thunder will advance past Nuggets in 6 or 7 games
Andy Bailey writes: “Denver’s experience and championship mettle won’t allow it to go down without a fight. … Denver won’t make it easy. There’s too much championship equity on that roster. But the Thunder are headed to the Western Conference Finals.”
NBA playoffs game picks, predictions, odds: Cavaliers vs Heat | Celtics vs Magic | Knicks vs Pistons | Pacers vs Bucks | Thunder vs Grizzlies | Rockets vs Warriors | Lakers vs Timberwolves | Nuggets vs Clippers | Betting: Point spreads, moneylines, over/unders
Sporting News: Thunder will defeat Nuggets in six games
Stephen Noh writes: “The Nuggets are also coming into this battle with a key injury. Michael Porter Jr.’s shoulder doesn’t look right. He’s been a disaster every time he’s put the ball on the floor, and he’s disappeared at times. Denver needs him to be at his best. This Thunder team is just too deep and has too many ways to win. SGA is going to carve a mediocre Nuggets defense up and that suffocating defense will do the rest.”
Draft Kings: Bet the Thunder to win series vs Nuggets in six games
Brendan O’Sullivan writes: “Predicting the Thunder to win in six games is the same value as the Nuggets winning the series outright. I’m far more confident in a 4-2 Thunder finish than the Nuggets winning the round. Thunder to win the series 4-1 at +240 is also a solid pick but there’s less juice as this is the favorite correct score. I would stay away from Oklahoma City winning 4-0 or 4-3 as it seems unlikely that Denver gets swept or forces a Game 7.”
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