Denver Nuggets vs Oklahoma City Thunder

The Denver Nuggets will travel to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder on Friday, October 17, 2025, at the Paycom Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Central Time. This will be the final preseason game for both teams, giving coaches one last opportunity to evaluate player rotations, conditioning, and chemistry before the start of the regular season next week. Despite being an exhibition matchup, both sides are treating it as an important test of depth and system execution.

The Nuggets will rest several key players for this game as part of their preseason load management strategy. Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Christian Braun are all sitting out to preserve their health heading into the season. This opens the door for Denver’s bench players, such as Reggie Jackson, Peyton Watson, and Julian Strawther, to log heavier minutes. On the Thunder’s side, Jalen Williams remains out following wrist surgery, while Kenrich Williams and rookie Nikola Topic are also sidelined. Oklahoma City will therefore rely more heavily on its young core, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren expected to set the tone early before the reserves take over.

Nuggets head coach Michael Malone will use this game to test lineup flexibility and sharpen his team’s defensive structure without its primary scorers on the floor. Expect Denver to emphasize ball movement, pace control, and defensive communication, with an eye toward solidifying roles for the second unit. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, meanwhile, is expected to continue experimenting with rotations and fast-paced offensive schemes. His focus will likely be on maintaining spacing, quick transitions, and efficient shot selection, all while evaluating how well younger players like Ousmane Dieng and Cason Wallace adapt under extended minutes.

Pre-game press coverage has focused on how both teams are using this matchup to gauge readiness rather than chase a result. For Denver, media outlets have emphasized the value of resting its stars while assessing how well the reserves can sustain the team’s identity in their absence. In Oklahoma City, discussion has revolved around how the Thunder’s depth holds up with multiple injuries, particularly with their frontcourt rotation being tested. Reporters have also noted that this game offers a clear look at how each team’s system performs when their primary scorers are unavailable.

Studio analysts ahead of the game have highlighted two main storylines: Denver’s ability to generate offense without its All-Stars, and Oklahoma City’s ability to maintain intensity and balance despite missing key contributors. They expect the Thunder to have a slight advantage given their home-court setting and more cohesive preseason rhythm. However, analysts agree that the main takeaway will be which role players seize their opportunities and how both teams’ tactical adjustments translate to regular-season readiness. The matchup serves as an ideal final test for both coaches before the real competition begins.