Injury Report, Updated Odds (12/29): Oklahoma City Thunder at Denver Nuggets
For the second time this season, the Oklahoma City Thunder travels to Denver to take on a rolling Nuggets team. They've won six straight games and have won nine of their last ten games. Their one loss in that stretch, though, came at the hands of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder as he hit a game winner.
Once again, this game could prove to be a close one. The Thunder is on a two-game winning streak while sitting at No. 3 in the Western Conference, just one game behind the Nuggets at No. 2 in the conference.
Watching Chet Holmgren face off against Nikola Jokic again will be entertaining, too, as he played a heck of a game in the two team's last matchup.
Injury Report
Thunder:
Ousmane Dieng, OUT (G League)
Keyontae Johnson, OUT (G League)
Jaylin Williams, Available (Hip)
Nuggets:
Aaron Gordon, OUT (Lacerations)
Collin Gillespie, OUT (G League)
Vlatko Cancar, OUT (Knee)
Jay Huff, OUT (G League)
Hunter Tyson, OUT (G League)
Michael Porter Jr., Available (Quad)
Reggie Jackson, Available (Skin)
Jaylin Williams potentially being out is a tough blow for the Thunder. When playing a team like the Nuggets, having Williams' size is a huge advantage, as he can be a big body to put on Jokic. With him active, he can double up on minutes with Holmgren and Holmgren can be used as weak-side help and clogging the passing lanes with his hands.
For the Nuggets, they were without Kentavious Caldwell-Pope last time, but will instead be without Aaron Gordon this time game. Michael Porter Jr.'s absence on top of Gordon missing the game would leave the Nuggets without two starters, and likely give the Thunder a leg up over them.
Updated Odds
While the Nuggets opened up as 3.5-point favorites, the spread has shortened as the Thunder is now just a 1.5-point underdog. The injury report is likely the reason behind this, but anytime Jokic is healthy, the Nuggets have a good chance to win that ball game.
With Jalen Williams' recent emergence playing like a star, it'll be interesting to see if the Nuggets are able to handle the Thunder's offensive attack.
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