The NBA didn’t ease Denver into the season. The Nuggets open Thursday night in Oklahoma City against a Thunder team that’s already got a win, a fired-up home crowd, and the reigning MVP running the show. It’s on ESPN for a reason.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić have won five of the last six MVP awards, and their teams have spent the past two years making life difficult for each other. Denver won the 2023 championship behind Jokić and Jamal Murray, his longtime partner in the two-man game. Together they can make five defenders look completely lost.

Oklahoma City won it all in 2025, powered by Shai’s patient, stop-and-start scoring and a defense that can turn a routine possession into a full-blown headache. Then the Thunder made the Western Conference Finals again last spring.

There’s plenty of recent history between these teams, too. Oklahoma City knocked Denver out in seven games on the way to that 2025 title, closing the series with a 125–93 win. Then came last season’s matchups. In March, Jokić posted 32 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists in Oklahoma City. Shai answered with 35 points and 15 assists, then hit the game-winning three with 2.7 seconds left.

These games don’t need much extra hype. They usually find a way to get personal all on their own.

Two Stars, Two Very Different Problems

Jokić’s first job is to make Oklahoma City defend the entire floor. Denver had one of the league’s best offenses last season. Jokić averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists, while Murray scored a career-high 25.4 points per game. When those two are on the floor together, the ball usually ends up in the right place.

Shai creates a different kind of stress. He gets defenders leaning, changes speeds, and gets to his spot before the help can get set. Last season, he averaged 31.1 points while shooting 55.3% from the field. He also won Clutch Player of the Year after leading the league with 175 points in close games late. Tuesday’s opener against San Antonio looked like they picked up right where they left off: Shai scored 32 points and the Thunder won 116–104.

The help around both stars makes this more interesting than an MVP matchup on a poster. Oklahoma City traded Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe over the summer. Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso will take on more of the perimeter defense, and a healthy Jalen Williams gives Shai another creator to work with. Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein bring the size around Jokić. They can crowd his space better than most teams, but they still have to respect every pass he might throw.

Does Denver Have the Bench to Match OKC?

Denver's changed, too. DeMar DeRozan gives the Nuggets another guy who can make something happen when the offense gets stuck. That could be big for them late. Peyton Watson’s departure leaves a real question on defense, and Denver will need Christian Braun, Gordon, and everyone behind them to stay connected when Shai gets downhill. One defender isn’t going to fix that problem by himself.

Oklahoma City’s defense was outstanding last season, even when the offense bogged down at times in the Western Conference Finals. Denver’s offense was still excellent, but their depth and defense raised some questions. That’s the matchup I’ll be watching when Thursday gets tight: can the Nuggets run their Jokić–Murray action, handle the first wave of pressure, and still find a good second option? Or will the Thunder force Denver into a rushed pass and give Shai another chance to take over?

I’ll take the Thunder at home in this one. Shai’s already shown he’s ready, and OKC has enough defenders to make Denver work for every late basket. That doesn't mean Jokić won't have a huge game, but I just don't think it'll be enough.

All stats courtesy of NBA.com.