Conquering Denver's altitude and elite offense requires disciplined play, winning non-Jokic minutes, and protecting the ball.
Winning in Denver is one of the toughest tasks in the NBA. Between the altitude, Nikola Jokić’s (who is now back from a knee injury) brilliance, and the Nuggets’ league best offense, teams have very little margin for error.
For the Thunder, this matchup isn’t about playing perfect basketball, especially while short handed, it’s about playing disciplined, intentional basketball for 48 minutes. If Oklahoma City wants to leave Ball Arena with a road win, these three keys will define the night.
1. Win the Non-Jokić Minutes and Survive the Rest
Nikola Jokić is inevitable. Doesn’t matter that he’s working himself back from injury. The Thunder don’t need to stop him, they need to manage the damage.
Jokić is the engine of everything Denver does offensively, whether he’s scoring on the block, carving defenses apart as a passer, or simply manipulating spacing. Oklahoma City’s goal should be to avoid letting him completely control the game.
That means mixing coverages, showing bodies in the paint, and living with some tough Jokić finishes if it takes away rhythm threes for Denver’s shooters.
Where the Thunder can flip the game is when Jokić goes to the bench. Those minutes must be won decisively. Oklahoma City has the athleticism, pace, and depth to pressure Denver’s second unit, especially by pushing in transition and attacking before the defense is set.
If those stretches are even, the Nuggets usually win. If the Thunder control them, the game stays within reach and winnable late.
2. Take Care of the Ball Against a Team That Rarely Gives It Away
Denver’s offense is elite in part because they don’t beat themselves. They are one of the lowest turnover teams in the league, which puts immense pressure on opponents to value every possession.
For the Thunder, that means resisting the urge to force passes that aren’t there. Live ball turnovers against Denver often turn into immediate scores the other way, and at altitude, those momentum swings are magnified. Oklahoma City thrives on chaos, but against the Nuggets, controlled aggression is the balance they have to strike.
Clean execution also keeps Denver out of their comfort zone. The fewer empty trips Oklahoma City has, the more pressure shifts onto Denver’s defense which is an area where the Nuggets have been vulnerable this season. Protecting the ball isn’t just about offense; it’s about not letting Denver dictate the game’s tempo.
3. Find a Way to Slow the NBA’s Most Efficient Offense
The Nuggets don’t just score they score better than anyone else. Denver leads the league in offensive efficiency, blending elite shooting, precision passing, and near perfect decision making.
Oklahoma City’s defense doesn’t need to shut Denver down, but it has to disrupt their flow. That starts with taking away easy reads. The Thunder must contest without fouling, close out under control, and avoid defensive breakdowns that lead to wide open threes.
Denver is deadly when the game slows into a halfcourt chess match, so the Thunder have to keep possessions uncomfortable.
Rebounding is a major part of this. One strong defensive stand means nothing if it ends with a Jokić tap out or a second-chance three. Finishing possessions and forcing Denver to consistently execute deep into the shot clock is the only path to slowing an offense this efficient.
This game will test Oklahoma City’s maturity. Winning in Denver requires patience, composure, and trust. If the Thunder can win the non-Jokić minutes, protect the ball, and make Denver work for every point, they give themselves a real chance, even in one of the league’s most unforgiving environments.