Two of the West’s top contenders make their season debut. The Oklahoma City Thunder won last year’s season series, 3-1. Will the trend stand?

Catch the game tomorrow at 10:00 AM, Manila time.

AWAY: Oklahoma City Thunder (0-0, 0-0 AWAY)

Projected starting five:

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
  • Alex Caruso
  • Jalen Williams
  • Chet Holmgren
  • Jaylin Wiliams

The fast-rising Thunder continue their quest for more respect. They will be coming off a 57-25 campaign that ended in a 4-2 West Semis loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams have steadily built a very promising ‘big three’ for the franchise, and they figure to progress this 2024-25.

Back-to-back All-NBA First Team member SGA headlines the bunch with his high-scoring ways. He has averaged over 30 points per game in each of the last two seasons on over 50% shooting. Williams stands as the second-fiddle, and is expected to be a 20-plus PPG scorer. Holmgren, the stretch big man and rim protector, should also be able to progress.

Lu Dort remains as their key perimeter defender, while new starter Alex Caruso, regarded as one of the better, is the exciting new addition. The two could form a heck of a defensive tandem.

OKC averaged 109.3 points per game vs. Denver last season.

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HOME: Denver Nuggets (0-0, 0-0 HOME)

Projected starting five:

  • Jamal Murray
  • Christian Braun
  • Michael Porter Jr.
  • Aaron Gordon
  • Nikola Jokic

The Nuggets got ousted in the 2024 West Semis despite jumping into a 3-2 series lead. Then, they lost their valuable wing from their 2023 title run Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency last July.

It may look like they are shaky coming in, but three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and clutch performer Jamal Murray are still there, as well as the forward duo of Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon, who reliably play their roles on offense and defense, respectively. It’ll also be interesting to see how youngsters Christian Braun and Julian Strawther would respond with the increased action on the court.

Veterans Russell Westbrook and Dario Saric are among the team’s off-season acquisitions, and they too have intriguing factors, especially the former. Westbrook, the league’s undisputed Triple-Double king, is in a different phase of his career and is once again challenged to change his style and mesh with a core that already has a strong chemistry.

Denver averaged 109.5 PPG vs. OKC last season.

PICKS:

Spread: Nuggets (-2)

Over/Under: Over (226)

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