Denver Nuggets at Utah Jazz NBA Picks & Predictions 10/18/2017

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Vivint Smart Home Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Denver Nuggets head to Vivint Smart Home Arena to take on the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, October 18, 2017. The opening line for this game has Utah as 2.5 point favorites.

The Nuggets head into this matchup after finishing last year with a mark of 40-42. They were 4th in the Northwest Division. They had a point differential of 0.5 as they averaged 111.7 points per contest while giving up 111.2 per game. The Jazz had an overall mark of 51-31 last year. They were 1st in the Northwest Division. They averaged 100.7 points per contest and gave up 96.8, which was a point differential of 3.9.

Valuable Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets were 46-35-1 against the spread last season

The Denver Nuggets were 50-31-1 against the over/under last year

Important Utah Jazz Betting Trends

The Utah Jazz were 35-43-4 against the spread last season

The Utah Jazz were 42-40-0 against the over/under last year

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

10/14/17 G Rodney Hood Neck probable Wednesday vs. Denver
10/06/17 PG Dante Exum Shoulder out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Gary Harris comes into this game after averaging 14.9 points per contest while playing 31.3 minutes per night last year. He grabbed 3.1 rebounds per contest and distributed 2.9 assists per game. His FG percentage was 50% while his free throw percentage was 78%. Nikola Jokic averaged 16.7 points per contest in 27.9 minutes per game last year. He averaged 4.9 assists per game and 9.8 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage was 58% for the season while his free throw percentage was 83%.

Player Spotlight

Rudy Gobert scored 14 points per contest while playing 33.9 minutes per game last season. He hauled in 12.8 rebounds per contest and had 1.2 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage was 66% and his free throw percentage finished at 65%. Ricky Rubio averaged 11.1 points per game last year and he saw the court an average of 32.9 minutes per game. He also brought in 4.1 rebounds per game and had 9.1 assists per contest. His field goal percentage was 40% and his free throw percentage was 89%.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver averaged 111.7 points per contest last year, which was 3rd in the league. Their average scoring margin was 0.51 and their shooting percentage was 47% as a unit, which had them ranked 6th. From 3-point territory they shot 37%, which was good for 11th in the NBA. They averaged 46.4 boards per contest and 25.3 assists per game, which ranked them 2nd and 2nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they were 7th with 15 per game. The Nuggets allowed 111.2 points per contest, which was 27th in the NBA. They also surrendered a 48% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 29th and 28th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents averaged 40.8 rebounds a game which ranked 4th, and they allowed 24 assists per game which put them in 25th place in the league. They forced 12 turnovers per game which ranked them 1st in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah was 28th in the NBA with 100.7 points per contest last season. They were 9th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin was 3.94. They shot 37% from beyond the arc, which was good for 8th in the league. They were 20th in the NBA in rebounding with 43.2 boards per contest and 28th in assists per game with 20.1. The Jazz were 19th in turnovers per contest with 13.6. The Jazz gave up 96.8 points per game, which ranked them 1st in the league. Their defense surrendered a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 4th and 17th in those defensive statistics. They ranked 1st with 17.8 dimes allowed per game and 1st with 40.2 boards surrendered per contest. The Jazz were 2nd in the league in forcing turnovers with 12.1 per contest last year.

Advanced Statistics

The Nuggets were 4th in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.2, and their defensive rating of 112.7 was ranked 2nd last season. In terms of pace they were 7th in the league with 98.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% was 5th. As a team they were 5th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shot 3 pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 9th in the league. Denver was 8th in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 13.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 10.9 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season was 53%, which was 3rd in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Utah was 12th in the league in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 13.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year was 49%, which was 28th in the NBA. The Jazz were 12th in the league in defensive rating with 105.3, and their offensive rating of 109.6 was ranked 28th. They were 30th in the NBA in pace with 91.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% was 8th. As a unit they were 10th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shot 3-pointers on 33% of their shot attempts, ranking 11th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Nuggets/Jazz NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Denver -2.5

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