Nuggets at Thunder
THE STORY: Two teams with explosive offenses kick off what should be an uptempo series Sunday when the fourth-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder host the fifth-seeded Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series. Oklahoma City has had Denver's number so far this season, but the Nuggets shouldn't be discounted after posting the highest scoring average in the NBA. The Thunder were no offensive slouches themselves, finishing fifth in points per game.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE THUNDER: Of the 55 victories Oklahoma City earned this season, two of its most recent ones may have set the early tone for this series. Consecutive wins over the Nuggets in a four-day span earlier this month helped punctuate the Thunder's first Northwest Division crown, and has given them some valuable momentum entering their best-of-seven series. Oklahoma City is led by sensational small forward Kevin Durant, who averaged 27.7 points to capture his second consecutive NBA scoring title. He and point guard Russell Westbrook provide a significant one-two punch on offense, averaging nearly 50 points per game and creating headaches for opposing defenses on a nightly basis. One area of concern is the defense, where the Thunder surrendered 101 points per game.
ABOUT THE NUGGETS: Trading Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks was supposed to be a death knell to the Nuggets' playoff chances. Instead, Denver enjoyed an astounding surge, going 18-7 thanks to a newfound commitment to defense. Denver allowed more than eight fewer points per game once Anthony left town, while the offense remained as dangerous as ever. With several players capable of filling the basket, the Nuggets should pose plenty of problems for Oklahoma City's D. Containing Durant is another matter altogether, as he averaged 31.5 points in the four meetings this season. Expect the Nuggets to try a number of different strategies against Durant, including plenty of double-teams. Limiting fouls will be critical, as well, since Durant led the league in free throws.
WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT: Prior to Wednesday's half-game against Milwaukee, Durant averaged more than 30 points over his previous five games. Nuggets G J.R. Smith averaged just 12.9 points on 40 percent shooting in April, well below his totals for March (15.0, 47.6).
KEY STATISTIC: 25-16 - The Thunder's road record during the regular season, tied with San Antonio for the third-best in the Western Conference. The Nuggets were just 17-24 away from Denver, giving a decided edge to Oklahoma City.
SEASON SERIES: The Thunder won three of four meetings overall. Durant had 28 points and Westbrook added 17 as Oklahoma City earned a 104-89 triumph over Denver in their last encounter April 8.
LAST WORD: "You have a chance to play against the best scorer in the NBA. So, I think everybody would love to prove himself. I like to prove myself against him.” - Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari on the prospect of defending Durant