For the first time this season, the Oklahoma City Thunder will face off against the Denver Nuggets. Unless the brackets shakes out differently, fans will get their first preview of what could be an absolutely tantalizing Western Conference Finals matchup.<\/p>\n
The Thunder are 38-11 and are top-five in both offensive and defensive rating. The Nuggets have held strong in spite of some significant absences, and they currently stand just five games behind Oklahoma City for the first seed in the Western Conference.<\/p>\n
Nikola Jokic, who missed over a month with a hyperextended knee, made his return on Friday against the Los Angeles Clippers.<\/p>\n
The fact the Thunder and the Nuggets have yet to play this season is merely a schedule quirk. But these combined facts make for an extremely compelling narrative heading into Sunday night’s matchup.<\/p>\n
The problem for Oklahoma City is that this is just the beginning.<\/p>\n
Oklahoma City have their toughest stretch of the season ahead, and Jokic could force them into a rough start<\/p>\n
For most teams, a 6-4 record in their last 10 games would simply be a stumbling block if not a slight victory. For the Thunder, however, it represents somewhat of a crisis<\/a>.<\/p>\n They have dropped close games to the Miami Heat, the Indiana Pacers, and the Toronto Raptors. They were absolutely blown out by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday. <\/p>\n They have suffered a number of absences due to injury, but one thing is clear. Oklahoma City desperately needs to get themselves back on track if they want to hold on to the one-seed.<\/p>\n This will be no easy task. Over the next month, they will face the Nuggets (twice), the San Antonio Spurs, the Houston Rockets, and the Detroit Pistons. Their only matchups against teams that are out of the playoff picture are with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Brooklyn Nets later in the month.<\/p>\n It’s a formidable slate, and Jokic and the Nuggets represent just the first test for the Thunder. <\/p>\n In his return against the Clippers, Jokic posted 31 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists in just 25 minutes. Jokic appears to be fully back, and there’s no telling what Denver’s surge will look like from here.<\/p>\n