Improving Nuggets find themselves in front of booming Thunder

Thunder vs. Nuggets Season series: 2-0 Thunder 

The Thunder have had the Nuggets’ number this season as Denver has looked hopeless in stopping them when their offense is clicking. Normally teams can focus on certain X’s and O’s adjustments to slow down the opponent, but Oklahoma City simply overwhelms with its immense talent embodied by their two MVP-caliber players. If the Nuggets are to have any hope of winning this one, the starting unit will have to go toe-to-toe with the Thunder while the bench unit wins their battle.

This game officially marks the beginning of the second half of the Nuggets season: Game 42 of 82. It would serve the Nuggets well to start the second half with a win, but that will be much easier said than done. The Thunder have been on an absolute roll, crushing their last three opponents (Heat, Timberwolves, Mavericks) by an average of 21.3 points. For a Nuggets team that is seemingly finding a good groove, this serves as a great test and could potentially serve as a monumental morale booster.

Thunder and lightning

Perhaps the most devastating one-two punch in the game today, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant continue on their hunt for gold and look better than ever. Westbrook is coming off of two consecutive triple-doubles against Miami and Minnesota and will look to get a third one to join Draymond Green, the only player with three straight. He almost had one against the Nuggets already when he dropped 30 points, 12 assists and 9 rebounds back on December 27th. The explosive guard slashes through defenders with a head full of steam and is near impossible to stop. It’ll be interesting to see whether Michael Malone elects to have Emmanuel Mudiay step up to the challenge or assigns Gary Harris, the Nuggets’ best perimeter defender, to stalk Westbrook.

If Westbrook is the lightning streaking through the court then Durant is the crack of thunder that finishes it. He has a whopping 115 made baskets off of Westbrook assists… the next highest is Andre Roberson with 11. It’s safe to say they love their two-man ball. As a result of Westbrook improving as an all-around player and being able to carry more of the offensive load, Durant has been able to have his most efficient season to date — shooting 51.3 percent from the field and 40.3 percent from three.

Battle of the bench

If the Nuggets bench loses to the Thunder bench, Denver will lose. Simple as that. Oklahoma City is a staggering 18-3 when their bench outscores the opponents’ second unit — presumably because the starters do such a great job of winning their fight. Will Barton and Darrell Arthur will have to continue their phenomenal play if the Nuggets want to even think about winning. Fortunately, Barton seems plenty comfortable running Oklahoma City’s bench ragged, as you can see below:

Injury report:

Nuggets: Wilson Chandler – out (right hip arthroscopic surgery), Jameer Nelson – questionable (sprained left wrist), Jusuf Nurkic – questionable (knee soreness).

Thunder: No reported injuries.