Nuggets open at Thunder: Jokic and Denver start the season in Oklahoma City
Denver opens its season Thursday night at Paycom Center against an Oklahoma City team that is already 1-0. Tipoff is 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 1 h ago01The story of the nightStakes and formThis is Denver's first game of the season, and the record is 0-0.
This is Denver's first game of the season, and the record is 0-0. Oklahoma City is 1-0 after a 116-104 win at San Antonio on Oct. 20 and comes in with one day of rest. The Thunder's last five games include losses at Houston (89-116), at Atlanta (110-113) and against Milwaukee (126-128), plus a 114-112 win over Indiana. Denver won three of its last five, most recently 121-106 at the Lakers on Oct. 16. Oklahoma City won three of the four meetings last season. Denver took the last one, 127-107 on April 10.
02Who is in and who is outDenver is without Julian Strawther, who is out with a left knee injury.
Denver is without Julian Strawther, who is out with a left knee injury. Spencer Jones is day-to-day with a hamstring issue. For Oklahoma City, Otega Oweh is out with a right Achilles injury. Nikola Topic (back) and Thomas Sorber (right knee) are day-to-day. Denver's likely five, based on minutes last season: Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic, Christian Braun, DeMar DeRozan and Cameron Johnson. Oklahoma City's expected five has started every game this season: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Isaiah Hartenstein.
03The matchup to watchStart in the frontcourt.
Start in the frontcourt. Jokic played 34.8 minutes a game last season. The Thunder can put two bigs on him, Holmgren at 30.5 minutes and Hartenstein at 17.4. Off the bench, Oklahoma City also has Aday Mara and Jaylin Williams. In the backcourt, Murray (35.4 minutes last season) goes against Gilgeous-Alexander, who is playing 36.1 minutes this season. Wallace and Alex Caruso give the Thunder more guards to throw at Murray. Denver's depth includes Aaron Gordon, Tyus Jones, Cam Whitmore and Zeke Nnaji.
04How to watch and whenTipoff is 9:30 p.m.
Tipoff is 9:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 22 (8:30 p.m. Central in Oklahoma City, 7:30 p.m. Mountain in Denver). The game is at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. ESPN has the national broadcast. Our listings show no local TV for either team, so ESPN is the channel to find in both markets. Check the injury report near tipoff for Spencer Jones, Topic and Sorber, since all three are listed as day-to-day.