Oklahoma City @ Denver preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 29, 2019 ) Denver 115, Oklahoma City 105

The Denver Nuggets attempt to defeat Oklahoma City for the seventh straight time when they host the Thunder on Saturday. Denver went 4-0 against Oklahoma City last season and has also won the past four home matchups with the Thunder.

The Nuggets had dropped five of six games before posting a solid 114-99 home win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday. Denver star center Nikola Jokic has three double-doubles in the past four games after recording 20 points and 11 rebounds against the Trail Blazers. The Thunder saw a season-long three-game winning streak conclude Wednesday with a 94-93 loss to the Sacramento Kings as they let an 11-point fourth-quarter lead slip away over the final seven minutes. "You can't blow leads like that," Oklahoma City forward Abdel Nader told reporters afterward. "We didn't execute to the standard we wanted to at the end the game and it gave them a chance to hit shots and come back."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Oklahoma, Altitude (Denver)

ABOUT THE THUNDER (11-13): Nader drained a career-best five 3-pointers while scoring 15 points against the Kings, the latest sign of development for a player who scored a career-best 23 points followed by 19 in back-to-back games to end November. "It's cool to see Abdel Nader, to how he's growing. He's shooting it with confidence," Thunder point guard Chris Paul told reporters. "He just hoops. 'Dule' takes whatever responsibility there is - defensively, offensively, runs, plays the right way." Backup guard Dennis Schroder scored a team-best 17 against Sacramento and is averaging 21.4 points over the past seven games, including scoring 25 or more three times.

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (15-8): Backup forward Jerami Grant - a former Oklahoma City player - matched his season high of 20 points and made 5-of-6 from 3-point range to equal his career best in 3-pointers made in the win over Portland. "He's being aggressive," Denver shooting guard Gary Harris told reporters of Grant. "He's putting pressure on the defense. He's knocking down shots, getting to the rim, getting fouled. He's doing it all. He's aggressive like that on the court." Denver had a 46-9 edge in bench points against the Trail Blazers with point guard Monte Morris contributing 11 points, seven assists and two steals.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Nuggets' four victories over the Thunder last season were all between seven and 11 points.

2. Paul had just eight points against Sacramento after averaging 22 over the previous three games.

3. Denver PF Paul Millsap (quadriceps) is unlikely to play after departing Thursday's game.

PREDICTION: Nuggets 117, Thunder 105