The set-up: The 45-34 Oklahoma City Thunder play in Denver on Sunday, up against the 38-41 Nuggets. OKC is locked into the No. 6 seed (and a meeting with Harden and the Rockets in the 1st round), while the Nuggets are 1 1/2 games back of the Blazers for the No. 8 seed and have just three games left.

Oklahoma City: The story of the thunder's season has been Westbrook chasing the Big O's record-setting 1961-62 season, Westbrook secured a triple-double average for the season Friday in Phoenix, he failed to record one in that game and remains tied with Oscar Robertson for the most in a season in NBA history with 41. The Thunder have won the first two meetings with the Nuggets *(will paay them again Wednesday in OKC) with Westbook averaging 34 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists. My main goal since I got here, especially this season, is to win a championship," Westbrook told reporters after Friday's loss. Is there anyone alive who thinks the Thunder have a one percent chance of winning the NBA title this season?

Denver: "I feel very optimistic," head coach Michael Malone told the media after Friday's 122-106 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. "It's funny, we lose a game in Charlotte (on March 31) and read things and everybody is ready to say we're done. We're not done. We don't listen to that noise. That's all a distraction." That's a nice sentiment but the Nuggets are in a tough spot. That said, even if Denver doesn't make the playoffs, it has to be optimistic for the future with young standouts like rookie guard Jamal Murray (9.7), who posted a personal-best 30 points against New Orleans. Forward Nikola Jokic (16.6 & 9.8) has five straight double-doubles and nine in the last 10 games

The pick: Oklahoma City has won eight straight meetings with Denver and gets a 'triple-double' here, the win, the cover and Russell's 42nd triple-double of the season. Make OKC a 10* play.