The most competitive of the four ongoing conference semifinals heats up on Tuesday night, as the Denver Nuggets (4) visit the Oklahoma City Thunder (1) in a pivotal Game 5 of a matchup that is tied at 2-2 through four games.
The Nuggets squeaked out a comeback win on the road in Game 1 and also took Game 3 thanks to some late heroics by Aaron Gordon and Co.
The Thunder dominated Game 2 from start to finish, then rallied in Game 4 after trailing 71-63 with 11:26 to play in Denver. Over the rest of the fourth quarter, OKC outscored the Nuggets 29-16 while holding Denver to 7-for-23 FG shooting (1-for-12 3PT) in the final frame.
Nuggets vs. Thunder Game 5 Betting Odds
DK FD bet365
DEN spread +9.5 (-110) +10 (-110) +10 (-110)
OKC spread -9.5 (-110) -10 (-110) -10 (-110)
DEN ML +330 +360 +350
OKC ML -425 -460 -450
Total 221 (o-110; u-110) 221.5 (o-110; u-110) 221.5 (o-110; u-110)
Denver enters Game 5 as the heavy underdog not only tonight, but to win the series and move on (as detailed below).
Will Nikola Jokic, who struggled in Games 2-4 (21-for-63 FG shooting, 16 turnovers, just 15 assists) after a massive Game 1, bounce back in Game 5 to lead the 2023 champs to another upset or two?
Or will the depth of the Thunder prevail over the Nuggets' championship experience tonight?
How to Watch Nuggets vs. Thunder Game 5
Tipoff: 9:30 p.m. ET
Channel: TNT/truTV/Max
Nuggets vs. Thunder Series Winner Odds (as of May 13)
DraftKings: OKC -525; DEN +400
FanDuel: OKC -620; DEN +460
Nuggets vs. Thunder Game 5 Player Props
Russell Westbrook 2+ Made Threes (+150 at bet365) -- 0.75 units
Both teams struggled from 3-point land in Game 4. OKC shot just 10-for-41 from outside, while Denver was 11-for-45 on 3-pointers, but the Nuggets did get a ton of good looks: 17, to be exact, per Adam Mares of the ALL NBA Podcast.
With OKC swarming Jokic and Jamal Murray, that opened up clean looks for all five Denver starters, plus top reserve Russell Westbrook, who went just 2-for-9 from 3 despite taking five from the corners.
Westbrook, who has gotten a steady diet of those high-value shots throughout this series -- but nevertheless struggled, at 5-for-22 (22.7 percent) through four games -- should get more good opportunities in this game, as the Thunder appear happy to dare him to beat them.
On one hand, Westbrook's career 3-point shooting percentage backs up their approach. On the other, he did show in the Clippers series that he's willing and able to prove an opponent wrong for leaving him, as he knocked down 13-of-31 triples (41.9 percent) in six games vs. LAC on over 5 3PA per game.
Assuming Westbrook once again gets at least a handful of 3-point looks -- especially if they are clean ones from the corners -- he's a solid value bet to make at least two for the second time in as many games at +145 at bet365.
Another reason to like Westbrook here is his steady role off the bench. He's played at least 21 minutes in all four games of this series. And despite an eight-minute appearance due to injury in Game 3 vs. the Clippers, he's averaging over 25 minutes per game in the postseason.
Nuggets vs. Thunder Game 5 Pick, Best Bets
Going into Game 4, it felt like Jokic was due for a slump-buster after he shot just 14-for-41 in Games 2 and 3. But while he finished Game 4 with 27 points, he did so while once again struggling from the floor (7-for-22 FG, 2-for-8 3PT).
At this point, there's good reason to believe the physicality of the Thunder is getting to the three-time MVP, who also dealt with a tough defender, Clippers center Ivica Zubac, in the first round.
That being said, I don't see Game 5 being a blowout like Game 2, and 10 points is a lot to spot a seasoned team like the Nuggets.
With that in mind, give me Denver to keep Game 5 close. I also like the Under, as I expect another relativelhy slow-paced, low-possession game -- even if both teams shoot better from 3 than they did on Sunday -- after both Games 3 and 4 were defensive battles.
Nuggets vs. Thunder Game 5 Best Bets:
Nuggets +10 (-110 at FanDuel, bet365) -- 1 unit
Under 221.5 (-110 at FD, bet365) -- 1 unit
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This story was originally published May 13, 2025 at 2:25 PM.