Nuggets vs Thunder Game 1 NBA Player Prop Picks (May 5)

• The Oklahoma City Thunder, the NBA’s top seed, enter Game 1 after a first-round sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies.
• The Denver Nuggets arrive in Oklahoma City following a grueling seven-game series victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
• This series features a marquee matchup between MVP frontrunners Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić, both leading their teams with exceptional performances this season.​

The Western Conference Semifinals tip off tonight as the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Denver Nuggets at Paycom Center. This matchup features a showdown between MVP frontrunners Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić. With both teams boasting deep rosters and high-powered offenses, Game 1 promises to be an exciting contest.​

Denver Nuggets Player Prop Pick: Nikola Jokic

Jokić averaged 18.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 10.1 assists in the first round against the Clippers. Given the Thunder’s strong defense and Jokić’s recent scoring averages, the under on 27.5 points may be a tricky choice.

Jokić has recorded at least eight assists in every playoff game this season, including four games with double-digit assists. He averaged over 10 assists per game during the regular season and had games with 13, 16, nine, and eight assists against the Thunder. At plus odds, this prop offers solid value.

Oklahoma City Thunder Player Prop Pick: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

SGA led the league with 32.7 points per game during the regular season and averaged 27.8 points in the first round. Facing a Nuggets team that just completed a taxing series, SGA is poised for a strong performance.

Gilgeous-Alexander has been aggressive from beyond the arc this postseason, averaging 7.0 attempts per game. Despite a 25.0% shooting percentage in the playoffs, he was a 37.5% shooter from three-point range during the regular season. Facing a Denver defense that ranked 22nd in opponent three-point percentage, SGA is poised to hit at least two triples tonight.