Nuggets at Thunder
The Denver Nuggets look to complete a four-game sweep of the season series when they visit the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. The Nuggets have won the first three meetings by an average of nine points and prevailed 105-98 on Nov. 24 in their first visit to Oklahoma City this season.
The Thunder have been struggling as they dropped five of six games before posting a 107-99 home win over Indiana on Wednesday. Oklahoma City resides in seventh place in the Western Conference with seven games remaining and appears destined to be on the road in the first round of the playoffs. Denver is one game behind Golden State for the top seed in the West and missed a chance to move into a tie by losing 112-85 in Houston on Thursday. The Nuggets have a showdown on the road against the Warriors on Tuesday, a contest is followed by four more against playoff teams from the conference.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Altitude (Denver), FS Oklahoma
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (50-24): Denver's offense suddenly has disappeared as it has failed to reach 100 points in three straight games for the first time all season. The Nuggets shot just 36.9 percent from the field - including 4-for-24 from 3-point range - against a Houston squad that plays at a pace that doesn't typically prevent teams from piling up points. Jamal Murray scored 20 points against the Rockets and is averaging 26.5 over his last two games after recording only four on 2-of-12 shooting in Sunday's 124-88 loss to the Pacers.
ABOUT THE THUNDER (44-31): All-Star Paul George is expected to play despite left shoulder pain after scoring 31 points in the win over his former Indiana team. George has recorded at least 30 points in four of his last seven appearances as he continues to be mentioned in the MVP conversation. All-Star Russell Westbrook collected 17 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds against the Pacers for his 29th triple-double of the season and the 133rd of his career.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Nuggets have won each of the last five meetings.
2. Denver backup SG Malik Beasley (birth of a child) returned from a one-game absence and made 1-of-9 shots versus Houston to drop to 4-for-25 over his last three appearances.
3. Oklahoma City C Steven Adams scored 25 points against Indiana on 11-of-14 shooting after averaging five points on 7-of-23 shooting over his previous three contests.