Game 1 Tip-off: 8:30pm @ Paycom Center, Oklahoma City | Broadcast: TNT
u26a1Shai vs. Jokic
The most valuable player didn't need to be excellent on offense in the opening round sweep of Memphis, as the Thunder defense and costar Jalen Williams took care of business alongside SGA. The Nuggets are a much more formidable opponent than the Grizzlies, of course. Denver has fewer options to slow down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the presumptive MVP, than the Thunder have to counter three-time MVP Nikola Jokic (expected to finish second behind SGA this season).