Nuggets Set to Face Thunder in Season Opener

The Denver Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic, will begin their 2026-27 NBA season on Thursday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are coming off a victory against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points in their 116-104 win on Tuesday. This matchup marks the Nuggets' first game of the season, featuring their core players Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon. The Thunder won three out of four games in last year's series and are currently favored to win the championship with odds of +240, while the Nuggets are at +2500.

The game will take place at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City at 9:30 p.m. ET, with the Thunder favored by 8.5 points and an over/under set at 235.5. SportsLine's Projection Model has simulated the game 10,000 times, predicting the total points to go under 235.5, based on the Thunder's strong defensive performance last season.