Denver Nuggets Betting Preview
The Denver Nuggets have been in decent shape as they’ve split their last 10 games overall, and they will be aiming for a third straight win after sneaking past the Grizzlies in a 117-109 home win on Friday. Aaron Gordon led the team with 33 points, Nikola Jokic tallied a triple-double of 26 points with 16 rebounds and 13 assists, while Jamal Murray chipped in with 15 points and seven assists. As a team, the Nuggets shot 48 percent from the field and five of 24 from the 3-point line as they struggled to get going and trailed for most of the first half. Before they dominated the fourth quarter by 25-14 to escape with the narrow win at home. Christian Braun had a quiet game of just 12 points, while Michael Porter Jr scored just seven points on two of eight shooting.
Houston Rockets Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets have been on a tear as they’ve won 15 of their last 19 games overall, but they will be hoping to avoid a third straight defeat after getting trounced by the Lakers in a 140-109 road defeat on Friday. Cam Whitmore led the team with 34 points, eight rebounds and one block, Reed Sheppard added 14 points with five assists while Nate Williams chipped in with 12 points off the bench. As a team, the Rockets shot 45 percent from the field and 18 of 51 from the 3-point line as they struggled to match the urgency of the Lakers from the start. They were never truly in the contest after falling behind by 78-56 going into halftime. The Rockets decided to rest almost all their starters while the Lakers were playing with a full squad, so the Rockets were never truly going to compete on Friday.
Why the Houston Rockets will win
- The Nuggets have lost 14 of their last 15 road games against Rockets teams that held a winning record.
- The underdogs have won each of the Nuggets’ last four games at Toyota Center.
- The Rockets have covered the spread in eight of their last nine games against Northwest Division opponents following a loss.
- The Nuggets have failed to cover the spread in eight of their last nine road games against Rockets teams that held a winning record.
Why the Denver Nuggets will win
- The Nuggets have won each of their last six road games against Southwest Division opponents.
- The Rockets have lost five of their last six day games against Northwest Division opponents.
- The Rockets have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six day games following a road loss.
- The Nuggets have covered the spread in each of their last five road games against Southwest Division opponents that held a winning record.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Rockets rank 1st in the league for rebounds per game this season (48.5).
- The Rockets rank 1st in the league for offensive rebounds per game this season (14.6).
- The Nuggets rank 1st in the league for assists per game this season (31.0).
- The Nuggets rank 1st in the league for field goal percentage this season (50.6%).
Rockets vs Nuggets Prediction
The Nuggets don’t currently have anyone listed on their injury report, while the Rockets will again be resting Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr and Alperen Sengun for this one. The depleted Rockets didn’t have nearly enough firepower to hang with the Lakers on Friday. I am expecting a similar result against the Nuggets, who would love to cap off their regular season with another win and cover on the road.