{"id":49260,"date":"2025-05-05T15:07:07","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T14:07:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/?p=49260"},"modified":"2025-05-05T15:07:14","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T14:07:14","slug":"oklahoma-city-thunder-vs-denver-nuggets-game-1-preview-2025-nba-playoffs-second-round-showdown-between-the-two-best-teams-in-the-west","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/oklahoma-city-thunder-vs-denver-nuggets-game-1-preview-2025-nba-playoffs-second-round-showdown-between-the-two-best-teams-in-the-west\/","title":{"rendered":"Oklahoma City Thunder vs Denver Nuggets Game 1 Preview: 2025 NBA Playoffs Second Round Showdown Between the Two Best Teams in the West"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Oklahoma City Thunder will face the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs. This second round matchup in the Western Conference promises to be a thrilling contest as these are the two of the best teams in the Western Conference, and the Thunder have the 2024-25 MVP frontrunner in Shai Gilgeous Alexander, whereas the Denver Nuggets have arguably the best player in the world in Nikola Jokic. <\/p><p>The Oklahoma City Thunder had the best record in the regular season, and they showed exactly why they were the No.1 seed in the Western Conference, as they thoroughly beat the Memphis Grizzlies in just 4 games, sweeping their way through. Whereas the Denver Nuggets had a very tough time beating the Los Angeles Clippers, as the Clips took the Nuggets all the way to 7 games. The Nuggets ended up beating the Clippers comfortably in Game 7 of the first round, where the Clippers were a no show offensively and defensively in the second half of the contest. <\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Full schedule of dates are set &#128467;&#65039;<br><br> It all starts tomorrow night in OKC &#127968; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/y052X0gIho\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'>pic.twitter.com\/y052X0gIho<\/a><\/p>&mdash; OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/okcthunder\/status\/1919235826866667979?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'>May 5, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure><p>Also Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/oklahoma-city-thunders-playoff-history-how-has-oklahoma-city-performed-in-nba-playoffs-over-the-years\/\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'>Oklahoma City Thunder&rsquo;s Playoff History- How Has Oklahoma City Performed in NBA Playoffs Over the Years?<\/a><\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Oklahoma City Thunder Preview<\/h2><p>The Thunder beat the 8th seeded Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, and they looked like the best team in the NBA. The question about who was going to score, if not for SGA, has now been answered, as the entire team absolutely torched the Memphis Grizzlies in the four games that they played.  Isaiah Hartenstein, Isaiah Joe, Lu Dort, Holmgren, J-Dub, all contributed to the scoring column, and defensively they were the far superior team than the Grizzlies. They are the favorites to win the series and advance past the second round, and this season the Thunder legitimately look like a serious threat to win-it-all.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Good morning, Loud City &#128483;&#65039; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/afrz9lEe9v\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'>pic.twitter.com\/afrz9lEe9v<\/a><\/p>&mdash; OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/okcthunder\/status\/1919376536337031324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'>May 5, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Denver Nuggets Preview<\/h2><p>The Denver Nuggets battled their way through a tough team in L.A. Clippers. The Clippers vs. Nuggets series was arguably the best first round matchup, and the two teams went back and forth, ultimately going all the way to 7 games to decide the series. While Jamal Murray, and Nikola Jokic produced the way everyone expected them too, the ultimate unsung hero in this series was Russell Westbrook. For years Westbrook was criticized for his poor shot selection, and decision making. However, Westbrook has now transformed his game, becoming a great 3-and-D player and also acting as the energizer bunny for the Nuggets. He played great against the Clippers, and Brodie was the reason why the Nuggets came out on top. <\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Travel day POV &#129331; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ER2l55PRQy\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'>pic.twitter.com\/ER2l55PRQy<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/nuggets\/status\/1919167815153483906?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'>May 4, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where To Watch Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Tonight?<\/h2><p>Catch the Denver Nuggets take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs. The two teams will square off on Monday, May 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City, at 9:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcasted live on TNT, and truTV.  <\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nuggets vs. Thunder Injury Report<\/h2><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Oklahoma City Thunder<\/h3><p>The Thunder are healthy for the most part, and are only missing Nikola Topic, who is out with a torn ACL injury.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Denver Nuggets <\/h3><p>The Nuggets have all of their players healthy to start off the series against the Thunder, except DaRon Holmes II, who is out because of torn Achilles.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Injury Report ahead of Game One against the Thunder:<br><br>OUT:<br>DaRon Holmes II (Right Achilles Tendon Repair)<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/MileHighPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'>#MileHighPlayoffs<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dR2Ywi5PHu\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'>pic.twitter.com\/dR2Ywi5PHu<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/nuggets\/status\/1919173714253422609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'>May 4, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Head-to-Head<\/h2><p>The Nuggets and the Thunder faced each other four times in the 2024-25 regular season of the NBA, and each team won two games against one another. Look for the series to be extremely competitive, and this series could also go all the way to 7 games to decide the winner. This series will be one of the best series in the 2025 playoffs, and the winner could very well reach all the way to the NBA Finals.<\/p><p>Also Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/2025-nba-playoffs-round-2-minnesota-timberwolves-vs-golden-state-warriors-nba-playoffs-head-to-head-record-timberwolves-vs-warriors-game-1-odds\/\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'>2025 NBA Playoffs Round 2- Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Golden State Warriors NBA Playoffs Head-to-Head Record, Timberwolves vs. Warriors Game 1 Odds<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"mm-layout mm-layout-type-post mm-layout-slot4\">\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Oklahoma City Thunder will face the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs. This second round matchup in the Western Conference promises to be a thrilling contest as these are the two of the best teams in the Western Conference, and the Thunder have the 2024-25 MVP frontrunner [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":49268,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_mux_skip_reasons":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[781,5900,6516],"class_list":["post-49260","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","tag-nba","tag-nba-playoffs-2025","tag-oklahoma-city-thunder-vs-denver-nuggets"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Oklahoma City Thunder vs Denver Nuggets Game 1 Preview: 2025 NBA Playoffs Second Round Showdown Between the Two Best Teams in the West - The Playoffs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Oklahoma City Thunder face Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs second round on May 5, 2025. 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