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The Western Conference semifinals tip off with a marquee Game 1 showdown between the Denver Nuggets and the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder. This highly anticipated series pits the experienced, playoff-hardened Nuggets against a terrific Thunder squad looking to prove they belong among the elite. Both teams enter the second round riding momentum for different reasons. Let’s dive into how each team arrived here, break down the key matchup storylines and offer a DFS outlook and Game 1 pick.
The Thunder entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the West and despite their youth, they looked every bit the part of the team we saw in the regular season, dominating the Grizzlies. Oklahoma City defeated Memphis in four games, completing a dominant sweep that underscored their defensive tenacity and balanced offensive attack.
Game 1 saw Jalen Williams set the tone early, dropping 20 points and controlling the game with his poise. The Thunder’s length on defense gave Memphis fits, as Chet Holmgren tallied two blocks and disrupted the Grizzlies’ interior offense. The Thunder coasted to a 131–80 win.
Game 2 was the first SGA game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went for 27 points on efficient shooting, while Jalen Williams added 24 again. Oklahoma City’s ball movement picked apart Memphis’ defense and they pushed their lead to 2–0 with a 118–99 victory.
Game 3 was a good, competitive game. Scotty Pippen Jr. caught fire for Memphis, scoring 28 points and giving the Grizzlies a big lead. But SGA closed the game with a great fourth quarter and finished with 31 points. OKC escaped with a 114–108 win and a commanding 3–0 series edge.
Game 4 was the closest of the series. SGA had his best game of the series, going for 38 points. Jalen Williams continued his hot streak with another 23-point night. Scotty Pippen Jr. did everything he could for the Grizzlies, going for 30 points once again. But it was not enough and OKC left Memphis with a 4-0 sweep.
The Denver Nuggets entered the 2025 NBA Playoffs as the Western Conference’s No. 4 seed and opened their postseason against the No. 5-seeded Los Angeles Clippers in what turned into a dramatic and hard-fought seven-game series. Denver started strong, taking a 1–0 series lead at in Denver, but fell down 2-1. Nikola Jokic was in full control in Game 1, finishing with 29 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists, while Jamal Murray chipped in 21 to lead the Nuggets to a 112–110 comeback win. Game 2 saw the Clippers even the series with a 105–102 victory. Kawhi Leonard led the charge with 39 points on 15-of-19 shooting, while Jokić posted a triple-double with 26 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for Denver.
The series shifted to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4. In Game 3, the Clippers capitalized on a 23–2 run spanning the first and second quarters, leading to a commanding 117–83 win. Leonard contributed 21 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists, while Ivica Zubac added 19 points. Jokic recorded another triple-double with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists for the Nuggets. Game 4 was a dramatic affair, with Denver’s Aaron Gordon delivering a game-winning, buzzer-beating dunk, marking the first known game-winning buzzer-beater putback dunk in NBA playoff history. Jokic led the Nuggets with 36 points and 21 rebounds, while Gordon added 14 points. The Nuggets secured a 101–99 victory, evening the series at 2–2.
Back in Denver for Game 5, Jamal Murray exploded for 43 points on 17-of-26 shooting, including 8-of-14 from beyond the arc, leading the Nuggets to a 131–115 win and a 3–2 series lead. Russell Westbrook contributed 21 points off the bench and Jokic added a triple-double. Ivica Zubac led the Clippers with 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting. Game 6 saw the Clippers force a Game 7 with a 111–105 victory. Leonard and Harden combined for 55 points, while Norman Powell added 24 points.
In the decisive Game 7, the Nuggets dominated with a 37–21 second quarter and a 35–19 third quarter, extending their lead to as much as 35 points. Aaron Gordon led Denver with 22 points and Christian Braun added 21. Jokic contributed 16 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. The Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard scored 22 points, but James Harden was limited to just 7 points despite 13 assists. Denver secured a 120–101 victory, completing the comeback and advancing to the Western Conference semifinals to face the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Game 1 of this series could set the tone for the entirety of the series and that makes for an intriguing DFS day.
For Oklahoma City, the offense will flow through Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who averaged 27.8 points in the first round and continues to deliver in big moments. Denver’s perimeter defense will be tested and SGA’s ability to draw fouls and hit mid-range shots makes him a must-consider DFS anchor. Chet Holmgren is another compelling pick—his rim protection and spacing could stretch Jokic defensively, opening up driving lanes for the Thunder guards.
Jalen Williams remains a high-upside wing option. He’ll likely see time guarding Jamal Murray and will be leaned on to score in transition. His versatility makes him a strong GPP tournament option.
On Denver’s side, everything begins and ends with Nikola Jokic, arguably the best DFS play on the board. Coming off a monster series, his combination of scoring, rebounding and playmaking gives him a near-unmatched floor. OKC has no traditional center who can truly contain him, making this a potential 30-point, 15-rebound, 10-assist triple-double type game.
Jamal Murray is a strong secondary option, especially if OKC throws multiple defenders at Jokic. Look for Murray to hunt switches and work in the pick-and-roll. Michael Porter Jr. also offers value as a low-owned scoring threat, particularly from three-point range. But our favorite DFS pick on the night is Nikola Jokic, as he should dominate on the glass.
Dylan has had a love for sports since he was a kid. Four years ago, he decided to dive into the sports content-creating industry specializing in Fantasy Football, NFL and NBA. He has since had his work published on sites that include Fantasy Alarm, Fansided, and Fantasy Six Pack.