Okc has all the incentive in the world to make sure Denver wins tonight

Denver has a bit of a harder choice but I don’t think so

Really okc has the most depth in the league and so if Denver wanted to, they should be able to lose this game

Okc is so damn deep they will still have good players playing with all their starters out

Idk I feel like OKC’s backups are all starters on any other team at this point lol. Every time they play they seemingly dominate or give teams a real run for their money. Maybe it’s because they have a great coaching staff idk but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they win the game easily if Jokic and Murray don’t play.

And Silver is worried about only bad teams tanking. This is playoff manipulation. Both teams should be fined!!

Nba needs way bigger rosters man

This is what I was thinking. Jokic needs 20 minutes in one of these 2 games. Maybe 15 if he hasn’t burned his 15 minute game(s) (I don’t remember how many you get a season to count for awards) to qualify.

And still get a triple double

He better… at the very least for the fans

So take his under today???

Intentionally losing for a worse seed to hunt a match up seems like a momentum killer if there ever was one.

People care way too much about that stuff. In a 7 game series, this game is meaningless ASIDE from seeding

It’s that simple

The guys also just genuinely need rest as they’ve all been banged up lately. Play them the minimum to win and then rest them, imo

The fans paid a premium price for a half ass game…. probably the last game ill have with my dad who has cancer… its my sister’s first NBA game….

The fans paid a premium price for a half ass game…. probably the last game ill have with my dad who has cancer… its my sister’s first NBA game….

“Pelicans-Kings Game Ends After Neither Team Able To Recover Tipoff” article was great.

“Though overwhelmed and dejected sources were unable to comprehend the precise series of events that occurred during the remainder of the game, further failed tip-offs were accompanied by an episode in which Kings forward DeMar DeRozan somehow obtained a volleyball, which he then lobbed in the general direction of the Pelicans’ basket for the only shot attempt of the night. Shortly thereafter, referees made the decision to call the contest, as players from both teams had either fallen asleep on the court or wandered off to play a claw machine game in the Golden 1 Center concourse.

At press time, reports confirmed the Sacramento Fire Department had been called to the stadium after a frantic, weeping Zion Williamson had somehow managed to get himself trapped inside the claw machine.”

OKC is resting 8 or 9 players. Nuggets is just responding to that. People will call for Adelman’s head if Nuggets send starters to play OKC’s end of bench guys and get injured before playoffs.

Does the order really matter though? Like let’s say they play the wolves first right, then spurs then OKC hypothetically. They still have to play spurs and OKC. If they play the lakers, then OKC first then spurs. They still have to play both OKC and spurs. I guess in terms of first round matchup LA would be easier but after that it’s just a different order

They’re likely not going to play the Lakers. In order for this ‘dream scenario’ to happen, the Rockets would have to win out, Nuggets lose out, and Lakers lose tonight. It’s not entirely within Denver’s control to get the Rockets the 3 seed.

If you try this and it goes wrong, the Lakers end up with the 3, then Denver has to play HOU and then OKC in R2.

Lu’s not playing. The Thunder have even less reason to play their starters 

He’s not even playing dawg

Just like the jazz vs grizzlies game, but for completely different reasons lol

I’d rather they be in the bracket that doesn’t require playing OKC until the west finals. Not that San Antonio is an easier path, but…the Nuggets do seem to play better against them.

OP failed to mention that the entire OKC team is actually out. Not even questionable