The Denver Nuggets (3-3) and Oklahoma City Thunder (2-3) take on one another in a 2016-2017 NBA Preseason Games encounter on Oct. 18, Tuesday at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 8:00 p.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru the NBA League Pass.
Preview
Denver is having a shaky preseason campaign this year as they split their first six games. The team has one game left after this match against the Thunder, with the Dallas Mavericks scheduled to be their final preseason opponents on Friday.
The Nuggets are coming off an impressive 106-97 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on the road at the Moda Center on Sunday.
Starting point guard Emmanuel Mudiay was rested by head coach Mike Malone and in his place was veteran floor general Jameer Nelson. Nelson had 15 points, three rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 27 minutes of action.
The other starters were Nikola Jokic, Jusuf Nurkic, Will Barton, and Wilson Chandler.
Chandler top scored for Denver with 18 points in 27 minutes. He also contributed five rebounds and one assist.
Barton had 17 points, two rebounds, and seven assists while Nurkic fired 13 points and grabbed a team-high nine boards. Jokic only scored five points but had eight rebounds, one assist, and two steals.
Rookie Jamal Murray was impressive off the bench as he had 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals in 34 minutes.
Meanwhile, the Thunder has won only two of their first five preseason games as the team continues to adjust to life without Kevin Durant.
Head coach Billy Donovan has given enough playing time for Russell Westbrook and Victor Oladipo to gel, especially in the offensive end, before the new season starts later this month.
OKC blasted the Minnesota Timberwolves, 112-94, also at their home court of Chesapeake Energy Arena on Sunday for their latest outing in the preseason.
Westbrook top scored for the Thunder as usual with 26 points. He also had three rebounds and a game-high 10 assists, playing in 31 minutes. Oladipo backed him up with 11 points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 28 minutes.
Starting center Steven Adams was also impressive with 20 points, 11 boards, and four blocked shots in patrolling the middle.
Prediction
A second straight win for Oklahoma City is predicted with Westbrook again leading the charge.
