Denver Nuggets visit Oklahoma City Thunder in a battle of Western Conference heavyweights
Watch Oklahoma City Thunder @ Denver Nuggets live on Sky Sports Arena & Main Event late on Friday night (midnight)
Saturday 30 March 2019 05:31, UK
After vaulting to the top of the Western Conference standings earlier in the week, the Denver Nuggets (50-24) have seemingly suffered from a bout of vertigo and have promptly struggled in the three games since.
Live NBA: Denver @ Oklahoma
They were quickly brought down to earth when they suffered a 36-point loss at the hands of the Indiana Pacers and then followed that up with an unconvincing win over a less-talented Detroit team, before falling to another defeat against Houston on Thursday. So the men from Mile High City will make their way to the Chesapeake Energy Arena on Friday night seeking to get their season back on track against the Oklahoma City Thunder (44-31).
Billy Donovan's team have performed poorly since the All-Star break and come into this match-up having lost 12 of their last 19 games. That stretch has dropped Oklahoma City to seventh in the west - which is quite the downfall after sitting third not long ago - but they still sit just one game back of the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers in fifth and sixth place respectively.
The Thunder will be looking to right their form and can secure a playoff place with a win but the fact that Paul George (shoulder) comes into this clash as an injury doubt does not help their cause.
This is the fourth and final meeting between these teams, with Denver looking for the season sweep as they bid to beat Golden State to top spot in the conference. And having homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs could prove huge for a club which owns a 19-18 road record and a 31-6 home record - so there's a lot riding on this one ahead of Friday night's showdown.
Key Battle - Steven Adams vs Nikola Jokic
Steven Adams is known as one of the toughest competitors in the NBA at the center position and will be full of confidence after he exploded for 25 points and 12 rebounds in the Thunder's 107-99 win over the Indiana Pacers last time out.
But he won't find it easy against Nikola Jokic, whose first name he humorously seemed to forget on an on-court interview back in December.
But you imagine he will certainly know it now as Jokic's superb offensive repertoire has helped to transform the Nuggets into a team which looks locked in for one of the top two seeds in the ultra-competitive Western Conference, with the big Serb averaging more than 20 points, almost 11 rebounds and 7.5 assists a game this season. In his last outing against the Thunder, he was one rebound away from a triple-double and lit it up for 36 points, while restricting Adams to just 5 rebounds.
The New Zealander will likely take that as a personal affront and it should be fascinating matchup between Jokic's precision and guile and the sheer brawn of Adams.
Last time out
Numbers game
27.5 - The number of assists the Nuggets average in each game. It ranks second in the league and demonstrates how comfortable they are offensively. Ball movement is a big part of what the Nuggets do and the pick and roll between Jamal Murray and Jokic is just a joy to watch.
9.5 - The steals per game average for Thunder, which is the fattest mark in the league. Oklahoma City is a team which clogs passing lanes and is always aware of opportunities to nick the ball and jet off on a fast break.
In Paul George and Russell Westbrook they have two of the league's top three steals leaders, with both men averaging two or more in each game. Denver will have to be wary.
15.7 - The number of second chance points the Nuggets average in a game. It shows how effective the team are on the offensive glass but the Thunder are second in the league in rebounding overall, so this area could well be where the game could be won or lost.
One to watch (Thunder) - Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook is really the franchise cornerstone in Oklahoma City and the 2017 MVP is averaging more than 10 assists, a category where he leads the league, for the fourth consecutive season. Although he is not scoring as effectively as he was two years ago he is still very much the motor which drives the Thunder. If his threat can be somewhat or somehow negated, that usually bodes well for opponents.
One to watch (Denver Nuggets) - Jamal Murray
Murray is a key part of Denver's offense and his relationship with Jokic and replacement center Mason Plumlee is pivotal to the operational whole of the team. He is capable both as a playmaker and a shooter and that versatility makes him a perfect foil for Jokic in particular. Murray has top-scored for the Nuggets in the past two games and will be key tonight if they are to regain their usual offensive swagger, which has been missing so far this week.
