Oklahoma City isn’t easing into the final third of their regular-season schedule, jumping back into play following the All-Star break by hosting one of the best teams in the Western Conference in the Denver Nuggets.
The first matchup between the team went to the Nuggets in a 110-102 victory over OKC back on Dec. 14.
Following that loss, the Thunder were just 11-14 on the year. But that loss served as a turning point in Oklahoma City’s season.
In the two months since, OKC has gone 22-8, including winning 10 of their last 13 ahead of All-Star Weekend.
Dennis Schroder touched on what has made the Thunder so successful during practice on Thursday, noting that there is a “different vibe” in the locker room this season and that “everybody is sacrificing” so that Oklahoma City can be where they are right now in the standings.
Schroder also credited Thunder head coach Billy Donovan with getting everybody to buy-in to his coaching philosophy, saying that he’s never seen three elite guards “having that much joy, coming out and playing for each other”.
As Schroder alluded to, one of the many reasons Oklahoma City found so much success prior to the All-Star break was their balanced scoring attack and unselfish nature.
A noted by ESPN, in the 13 games prior to the break, Schroder (22.4), Chris Paul (20.8), Danilo Gallinari (20.4) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (18.1) all averaged at least 18 points over that stretch.
The Nuggets are led by Nikola Jokic, who averages 20.6 points per game. In the last matchup, Jokic went for a 28-point, 14-rebound, 12-assist triple-double to top Steven Adams’ 18-point and 14-rebound double-double.
Tip-off between Denver and the Thunder is at 7 p.m. CT inside Chesapeake Energy Arena. The game will be televised on ESPN.