3 Must-See Matchups in Nuggets vs. Thunder on League Pass

Top Stories: 3 Things to Watch in Nuggets-Thunder on League Pass The Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder face off in a Friday night matchup on League Pass at 9 ET.

Joel Bartilotta, RotoWire.com | April 10, 2026 8:03 PM

The Denver Nuggets (52-28) host the Oklahoma City Thunder (64-16) at Ball Arena on Friday. The Thunder have won all three games against the Nuggets this season and are looking for the season sweep. With that said, all three games were decided by 10 points or fewer.

Here are three key storylines to know heading into today’s matchup:

1. The Nuggets Are Looking to Secure the Three-Seed
Denver is playing its best ball at the right time, entering this matchup amid a 10-game winning streak. That late-season surge has them just one win away from clinching the three-seed in the Western Conference. What’s really helped turn things around is the Nuggets’ health. Aaron Gordon and Cameron Johnson both returned right around when that streak started. Johnson has really found his groove since his return, averaging 15.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 56% over the last 15 fixtures.

2. The Thunder Clinched Homecourt on Wednesday
A 128-110 road win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday secured Oklahoma City the best record in the league and homecourt advantage throughout the postseason. It also marks OKC’s seventh straight win and gives them a 19-1 record across their last 20 outings. Jalen Williams just returned to action two weeks ago, and this team will have a week off before their first playoff game.

3. MVP Candidates on Display
This MVP battle has been an exciting race all season long. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning MVP, averaging 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game this year. Nikola Jokić has recorded a triple-double in 11 of his last 16 outings, averaging 27.8 points, 12.9 rebounds, 10.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game. This is one final opportunity for Jokić to at least sway some voters.

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