The Denver Nuggets (37-22) and Oklahoma City Thunder (45-15) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 9:30 p.m. ET from the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The game will broadcast live on ESPN.
The Nuggets are 8.5-point favorites over the Thunder on the spread (Nuggets -8.5), with the over/under set at 234.5 total points. Denver is a -310 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Oklahoma City is +250 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Nuggets vs. Thunder predictions and NBA picks for Friday, February 27.
Nuggets vs Thunder Prediction
- Nuggets vs Thunder pick: Cason Wallace Over 1.5 Steals (-140)
My Nuggets vs Thunder best bet is on Cason Wallace to record over 1.5 steals. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Nuggets vs Thunder Odds
| Nuggets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+8.5 -120 | 234.5 -105o / -115u | +250 |
| Thunder Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-8.5 +100 | 234.5 -105o / -115u | -310 |
Nuggets vs Thunder NBA Preview
The Thunder are getting healthier — and frankly, they need to.
The Thunder have powered through a number of key injuries this season and still maintain the top record in the Western Conference.
At 45-15, the Thunder are now only 1.5 games ahead of the second-place Spurs for the top spot in the conference. Meanwhile, the Nuggets trail by 7.5 games, now in fourth.
We could be staring into a preview of the Western Conference Semifinals with this one, whether it's the 1-4 or 2-3 matchup — or the Western Conference Finals, if the bracket shakes out differently.
However, that would require winning consistently, which both teams have uncharacteristically struggled to do.
The Nuggets are just 4-6 in their last 10 games; the Thunder are just 8-7 in their last 15.
As far as injuries go, Oklahoma City once again provides a loaded report.
The good news is that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is off of it and expected to play tonight. However, Jalen Williams (hamstring) and Ajay Mitchell (ankle) are out for the Thunder.
Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Peyton Watson (hamstring) are out for the Nuggets, while Jamal Murray (illness) and Jalen Pickett (knee) are listed as questionable. Julian Strawther (toe) is probable.
Nuggets vs Thunder Predictions, Betting Analysis
Cason Wallace has recorded two or more steals in seven of his last 11 games and will continue to play big minutes with SGA back.
Wallace has logged over 30 minutes per game through those 11 games, and while much of that was without the reigning MVP in the lineup, he was still starting and playing significant minutes prior to SGA's injury.
Wallace's recent play entitles him to more playing time, and he is always a candidate to record a crazy amount of steals on any given night.
He recorded two steals in the Thunder's matchup against the Nuggets earlier this month.
Pick: Cason Wallace Over 1.5 Steals (-140)
Spread
I'm staying away from the spread in tonight's matchup.
Moneyline
No play on the moneyline here.
Over/Under
My Thunder vs. Nuggets betting prediction is Cason Wallace Over 1.5 Steals.
