Denver @ Oklahoma City preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 1, 2018 ) Oklahoma City 124, Denver 127

The Denver Nuggets are facing an uphill climb in their pursuit of a Western Conference playoff spot as they enter Friday's road contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Denver sits two games behind eighth-place Utah, with the Los Angeles Clippers sandwiched in between, after losing four of its last six contests.

The Nuggets suffered a 114-110 loss in Toronto on Tuesday, and coach Michael Malone was highly disappointed with his squad's lack of urgency. "We have seven games to go," Malone told reporters. "Every (darn) play matters, and right now, we're not playing like every play matters. We're playing like we have 30 games to go in the season, and I can't explain that. It's unacceptable." Oklahoma City dropped a 103-99 decision to San Antonio on Thursday and is tied for fourth place with the Spurs, who own the tiebreaker. Thunder star Russell Westbrook recorded 19 points and 11 rebounds but also committed seven turnovers and missed two late 3-point attempts, including an untimely air-ball.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Altitude (Denver), FS Oklahoma

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (40-35): Denver is 2-4 on its six-game road trip and will finish it the way it started - without the services of shooting guard Gary Harris. The 23-year-old will miss his seventh straight contest due to the knee injury he suffered on March 15, and the Nuggets badly miss his ability to stretch defenses - as well as his 17.7 point average, which puts him second on the club behind Nikola Jokic (17.8). Denver received a strong performance from Jokic (29 points, 16 rebounds, eight assists) against Toronto, and he has scored 20 or more points in eight of his last 11 contests.

ABOUT THE THUNDER (44-32): All-Star Paul George had a stellar game against the Spurs with 26 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals. It was a much-needed performance for the 27-year-old after he averaged 14 points on 7-of-31 shooting - including missing all 13 3-point attempts - over his previous two contests. Meanwhile, Westbrook averaged 29 points, 10.5 rebounds and 9.5 assists over his previous four games before struggling through a lackluster 7-of-19 shooting effort against the Spurs.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Nuggets are 2-1 against the Thunder this season but dropped a 95-94 decision at Oklahoma City on Dec. 18.

2. Oklahoma City PF Carmelo Anthony is averaging just seven points on 8-of-27 shooting over his last three contests.

3. Denver PF Paul Millsap is averaging 18 points on 14-of-22 shooting over his last two games after scoring just two against Washington on March 23.

PREDICTION: Thunder 105, Nuggets 102