Denver will make a point to prove it's still one of the top teams in the West on Thursday night at home against an OKC team that took three of four in this series last season.

The Nuggets will expose a Thunder team that will be without center Isaiah Hartenstein, who was acquired this offseason to boost the team's rim defense. I expect Nikola Jokic and the home team to make the most of his absence in the paint. OKC will have wing Jalen Williams back in the rotation (ankle), but he is a question mark after missing all of the preseason. With a few more players sidelined, the Thunder will lack the depth advantage they would normally have versus Denver, whose smaller rotation will be fresh and ready to ball in the season opener.

Bet on the Nuggets to win and cover the 2.5-point spread with relative ease on Thursday in the Mile High City!