Oklahoma City became the youngest team to be a No. 1 seed last season. And the way the Thunder are playing this year, they want to be the second youngest team to do it.
Oklahoma City has won its first seven games, all by double digits, and go for its eight straight when it visits the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.
This is the second time in less than two weeks the teams are meeting in Denver and the first one went handily to the Thunder, 102-87. Oklahoma City has been impressive, but it isn’t getting complacent.
“I don’t think any team has ever hung a banner for a six-game win streak,” center Chet Holmgren said. “We don’t take wins for granted in this league and know how hard work it takes to get something like that. But we have bigger goals that we’re working toward.”
The Thunder have raced out to the best record with its depth. Ten players are averaging 13 or more minutes a game and no one is playing more than 32 minutes a night, which is what leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging.
The depth bodes well for sustained success for a team that was bounced in the second round of the playoffs last spring.
“We’re not even close to where we need to be to accomplish what we want to accomplish,” said Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 25.7 points a game. “It’s cool. But not satisfied at all.”
The Nuggets aren’t as deep as Oklahoma City and there are concerns that they will wear down. It was one reason they lost Game 7 at home against Minnesota in the second round of the postseason and the lack of a reliable bench has been an issue.
Denver has recovered from an 0-2 start to win four of five but will be without two starters. Jamal Murray has missed the last two games while in concussion protocol and Aaron Gordon left Monday’s comeback victory over Toronto with a right calf strain.
It was reported Tuesday that Gordon will miss “multiple weeks” with the injury.
Gordon was dealing with right calf inflammation entering the game and left after playing just four minutes.
“Honestly, I was a little surprised he played last game,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “The schedule has not been overly kind to us early. I think he’s dealing with just bumps and bruises.”
Without Gordon and Murray, it will further strain the bench. Veteran Russell Westbrook has started at point guard in place of Murray and Peyton Watson will likely get the start at power forward with Gordon out.
Nikola Jokic has been able to make up for a lot of flaws in the early going. Jokic is averaging a triple-double through seven games – 29.6 points, 12.6 rebounds and 10.3 assists. He is fifth in the league in scoring, third in rebounds and second in assists.
Jokic’s overall game has helped the younger players, and the reigning MVP gets something out of it.
“I really actually do enjoy playing with them just to see how they’re going to react and what they’re going to do, experience-wise,” he said.
–Field Level Media
