Nuggets Open Season with Convincing Wins

The Denver Nuggets are seeking a third victory of the season. The defending champions have a stacked roster again this year and are primed for another big season led by Jokic, Murray, and Porter Jr. The Nuggets are thriving early. They beat the Lakers 119-107 in the season opener to cover the five-point spread and played great defense in a 108-104 road win against the Grizzlies on Friday evening in a bout that had Denver as 5.5-point favorites.

Nikola Jokic was outstanding in the opener, sinking 29 points against the Lakers along with 13 rebounds and 11 assists. The 28-year-old star wasn’t as productive on Friday, sinking 22 points and earned a second consecutive double-double. Jokic was stellar against the Thunder last season, posting 24.3 PPG and 13 RPG.

Jamal Murray collected 21 points against the Lakers. The 26-year-old averaged 20 PPG last season and is a big threat from beyond the arc. Murray has shot 50% from deep in two games. The Nuggets have solid depth including Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The veteran shooting guard averaged 20 PPG last season and has scored a total of 28 points in two clashes.

The Nuggets were the best home team in the NBA last season but had their struggles on the road, posting a record below the .500 mark at 19-22. Denver averaged 115.8 points last season, ranking them 12th. They held opponents to 113 points, good for eighth. The Nuggets are shooting 49.7% on the young season while holding opponents to a 45% mark.

Thunder Seek Third Straight Victory

The Oklahoma City Thunder are seeking a third consecutive win. Oklahoma City is an exciting young squad that has been rebuilding in past seasons but appears ready for a breakout season. The young core should continue to display progress. They won 40 games last year and should improve on that number. Oklahoma City was a 2.5-point dog in a 124-104 road win against the Bulls in the opener and was again a 2.5-point dog in a 108-105 road win against a good Cavs squad.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has established himself as one of the best players in the NBA. The 25-year-old point guard averaged over 30 PPG accompanied by 5.5 APG last season. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points in the opener and was a beast on Friday evening, collecting 34 points on 58% shooting. Josh Giddey is a key player on this young squad. The young shooting guard posted an average of 16.6 PPG last season and has scored 18 points in the opening two games.

Chet Holmgren missed all of last season due to injury. The 21-year-old was the second pick in the draft two seasons ago and could be a candidate for Rookie of the Year. Holmgren was key in the win on Friday, netting 16 points.

Oklahoma City went a solid 24-17 at home last season which is notable considering they only went 42-40. Last season, Oklahoma City averaged a remarkable 117.5 points, marking them fifth. They conceded an average of 116 points, placing them 19th in the NBA. Oklahoma City has connected on 50% of their field goals while opponents are only shooting 41.4% against them after two bouts.