The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets will meet at Ball Arena on Friday, May 9, 2025. The game is set to start at 10:00 PM and will be broadcast on ESPN. This is the third game of the Western Conference Semifinals in the NBA Playoffs, with the series tied at 1-1. The Thunder come into this game with a record of 5-1 in the playoffs. In their last game, they won against the Nuggets by a large margin, scoring 149 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a standout player, contributing 34 points and 8 assists. The Nuggets have a playoff record of 5-4. They won their first game against the Thunder by 2 points. Nikola Jokić played a key role in that win, scoring 42 points and grabbing 22 rebounds. The Nuggets will look to bounce back at home after their recent loss.
Nuggets Preview
The Denver Nuggets are in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals. They have an interim head coach, David Adelman. In the postseason, their record stands at 5-4. At home, they have won 3 out of 4 games.
In the regular season, the Nuggets had a record of 50-32. They ranked 4th in the Western Conference and 2nd in the Northwest Division. Their home record was 26-15. Over the last 10 games, they have a 5-5 record.
Nikola Jokić leads the team in points, rebounds, and assists during the postseason. He averages 25.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game. Jamal Murray is second in scoring with 21.7 points per game.
The Nuggets score 109 points per game, ranking 6th in the league. They allow 114 points per game, placing them 15th in defense. Their field goal percentage is 46.6%, and they make 11.6 three-pointers per game.
Thunder Preview
The Oklahoma City Thunder are competing in the Western Conference Semifinals of the NBA Playoffs. They have a strong postseason record of 5-1. Their performance at home shows three wins and one loss. On the road, they have won both games played.
In the regular season, the Thunder had a record of 68-14. They ranked first in the Western Conference and the Northwest Division. Their home record was 36-6, while their away record was 32-8. Over the last ten games of the regular season, they won eight and lost two.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder in the postseason with an average of 29.7 points per game. He also contributes 5.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game. Jalen Williams follows with 21.0 points per game, along with 5.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
Chet Holmgren adds 16.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game in the postseason. Isaiah Hartenstein provides 10.3 points and 8.7 rebounds. Alex Caruso contributes 8.5 points and 3.5 assists per game. These players have been key to the Thunder’s success in the playoffs.
Statistical Breakdown for Nuggets vs Thunder
The Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder will meet in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals. The Thunder have a strong offense, leading the league in points per game. The Nuggets will need to rely on their home performance and key players like Nikola Jokić to keep up. Defense will be important, as the Thunder allow fewer points per game than the Nuggets.
- Thunder Points Per Game: 124.7 (1st)
- Nuggets Points Per Game: 109.0 (6th)
- Thunder Points Per Game Allowed: 104.8 (7th)
- Nuggets Points Per Game Allowed: 114.0 (15th)
- Thunder Field Goal Percentage: 46.7 (5th)
- Nuggets Field Goal Percentage: 46.6 (6th)
- Thunder Rebounds Per Game: 45.3 (4th)
- Nuggets Rebounds Per Game: 44.9 (5th)
- Thunder Assists Per Game: 26.8 (3rd)
- Nuggets Assists Per Game: 23.1 (11th)
Betting Insights
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets meet with interesting betting angles to consider. The Thunder have been strong against the spread (ATS) at home during the postseason, while the Nuggets have shown resilience as underdogs. Both teams have trends in the Over/Under category that bettors should note. Here are the top five betting trends for this game:
- The Thunder have a 3-1 ATS record at home in the 2025 postseason.
- The Nuggets are 5-3 ATS as underdogs in the 2025 postseason.
- The Thunder have a 3-game Over streak in the 2025 postseason.
- The Nuggets have a 5-game Over streak in the 2025 postseason.
- The Thunder had a 41-18-1 ATS record in the 2025 regular season.
Free Betting Prediction for Nuggets vs Thunder
The Denver Nuggets will rely on their home advantage in Game 3. They have a solid record at home in the postseason. Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray are key players for the Nuggets. Their performance will be crucial in keeping up with the Thunder’s strong offense.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been dominant in the postseason. They have a strong record both at home and on the road. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the team in scoring. The Thunder’s defense is also better than the Nuggets, which might give them an edge.
Considering the Thunder’s strong postseason form and better defense, they are likely to win Game 3. The Nuggets will put up a fight, but the Thunder’s balanced team might be too much. The game could be close, but the Thunder should cover the spread.
- Our Free Prediction: Thunder -5.5
