The Denver Nuggets travel to the Delta Center to take on the Utah Jazz on Monday night. Here’s a Jazz vs. Nuggets prediction. This article will include a Jazz vs. Nuggets pick.
Denver Nuggets Betting Preview
The Denver Nuggets have been mired in an ugly slump as they’ve dropped eight of their last 12 games overall and they will be hoping to bounce back here after falling short to the Timberwolves in a 117-108 home defeat last night. Nikola Jokic led the team with 35 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists on 15 of 26 shooting; Jamal Murray added 25 points with five rebounds and four assists, while Tim Hardaway Jr. chipped in with 17 points off the bench. As a team, the Nuggets shot 48 percent from the field and just six of 22 from the 3-point line as they set the tone with 31 points in the first quarter to take an early 11-point lead, but they allowed the Timberwolves to get hot and were always a couple steps behind after getting dominated by 36-19 in the second quarter. Cameron Johnson had a rough game as he shot zero of six from the field to finish scoreless, while Julian Strawther finished with just two points on one of four shooting.
Utah Jazz Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz have been in terrible form as they’ve lost 17 of their last 21 games overall and they will be hoping to avoid a sixth straight defeat after getting beaten by the Pelicans in a 115-105 loss on Saturday. Isaiah Collier led the team with 21 points and seven assists off the bench, Keyonte George added 17 points, and Elijah Harkless chipped in with 14 points and five assists. As a team, the Jazz shot a miserly 34 percent from the field and 12 of 43 from the 3-point line as they struggled to contain the Pelicans early on and trailed by as many as 27 points in a nightmare first half, which is a shame because they played much better in the second half to cut the deficit to just seven points at one stage.
Why the Utah Jazz will win
- The Nuggets have lost 20 of their last 21 games at Delta Center following a home loss.
- The Jazz have won 15 of their last 19 games against the Nuggets at the Delta Center.
- The Nuggets have failed to cover the spread in four of their last five games as favorites against Western Conference opponents.
- The underdogs have covered the spread in six of the Nuggets’ last eight games.
Why the Denver Nuggets will win
- The Nuggets have won each of their last eight road games on the second leg of a back-to-back after losing as favorites.
- The Jazz have lost each of their last seven games following a home loss.
- The Jazz have failed to cover the spread in each of their last eight games as underdogs against Western Conference opponents.
- The Nuggets have covered the spread in each of their last seven games against the Jazz.
Total Points: Facts
- Each of the Nuggets’ last 10 road games against Western Conference opponents has gone OVER the total points line.
- Eight of the Jazz’s last nine games as home underdogs against opponents who are on the second leg of a back-to-back have gone OVER the total points line.
Utah Jazz Player Facts
- Isaiah Collier is the only player in the league to have recorded 19+ assists in a game this season.
- Brice Sensabaugh is the only player to have scored 40+ points off the bench in a game this season.
Denver Nuggets Player Facts
- Nikola Jokic ranks 1st amongst qualified players for assists per game (10.5) this season.
- Jamal Murray is one of only five players in the league to have recorded 30+ points and 10+ assists in consecutive games this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Jazz rank 30th in the league for opponent points per game this season (125.7).
- The Jazz rank 30th in the league for opponent assists per game this season (30.5).
- The Nuggets rank 1st in the league for points per game this season (120.3).
- The Nuggets rank 30th in the league for opponent turnovers per game this season (12.2).
Jazz vs Nuggets Prediction
The Nuggets are still missing. Aaron Gordon, Peyton Watson, and Spencer Jones, while the Jazz have ruled out Jusuf Nurkic, Jaren Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen, and Vince Williams Jr. The Nuggets haven’t been able to get in a groove lately despite being relatively healthy, but surely Jokic and the Nuggets can put it all together to play decent enough basketball to beat this ice-cold Jazz squad. These teams last met on Dec 22 and it was the Nuggets who rolled to a 135-112 win at home. The Nuggets are playing their second game of a back-to-back set, but they are desperate for a win right now and I think they can easily handle this depleted Jazz team for the second time this season.