Thursday, January 5, 2017

Pepsi Center

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The San Antonio Spurs travel to Pepsi Center to play the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, January 5, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has San Antonio as 6.5 point favorites. The Spurs come into this game with an overall record of 28-7. They are 1st in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 7.7 as they are averaging 105.5 points per game while giving up 97.8 per contest. The Nuggets have an overall record of 14-21. They currently are 4th in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 108.3 points per game and surrendering 110.5, good for a point differential of -2.1.

Lamarcus Aldridge comes into this contest averaging 17.5 points per game while playing 32.3 minutes per night so far this season for the Spurs. He pulls down 7.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 50% while his free throw percentage is currently at 83%. Kawhi Leonard averages 24 points per game in 33.2 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.1 assists per contest and 5.9 rebounds per game for San Antonio. His field goal percentage is 47% for the year while his free throw percentage is 92%.

Danilo Gallinari averages 17.2 points per game while playing 34.3 minutes per contest this year for the Nuggets. He grabs 5 rebounds per game and has 2.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage currently is at 89%. Wilson Chandler averages 16.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.9 rebounds per contest and 2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 72%.

San Antonio averages 105.5 points per contest this season which ranks them 11th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 7.7 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team which has them ranked 2nd. Behind the arc they shoot 41% which is good for 1st in the league. They average 50.2 rebounds per game and 23.8 assists per game which ranks them 22nd and 6th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 12th with 13.5 per game. The Spurs allow 97.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 2nd in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc ranking them 6th and 3rd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 47.6 rebounds a game which ranks 1st and they give up 21 assists per contest which puts them in 4th place in the league. They force 14.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 14th in the league.

Denver averages 108.3 points per game this year which ranks them 5th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -2.1 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team which has them sitting in the 15th spot in the league. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 12th in the NBA. They average 57.2 rebounds per game and 23.2 assists per contest which ranks them 1st and 8th respectively. In the turnover department the Nuggets rank 25th with 15.7 per game. The Nuggets allow 110.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 27th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc ranking them 27th and 25th in those defensive statistics. Opponents average 48.6 rebounds a game which ranks 2nd and they give up 23.3 assists per contest which puts them in 22nd place in the league. The Nuggets force 11.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 30th in the NBA.

The Spurs have an offensive rating of 112.2 and a defensive rating of 104. In terms of pace they average 93.8 possessions per 48 minutes and their effective field goal percentage is 53%. As a team they have a true shooting percentage of 57% and they shoot 3 pointers on 27% of their shots. San Antonio turns the ball over an average of 12.8 times per 100 possessions and they force 13.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%.

The Nuggets rating on offense is 109.6 and they have a defensive rating of 111.8. They get 97.9 possessions per 48 minutes and they have an effective field goal percentage of 51%. As a unit they have a true shooting percentage of 55% and they attempt 3 pointers on 31% of their shot attempts. Denver turns the ball over on 13.7 out of every 100 possessions and their opponents average 10.8 turnovers per 100 possessions. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the year is 52%.

San Antonio Spurs Betting Trends

The San Antonio Spurs are 21-14-0 against the spread

The San Antonio Spurs are 20-15-0 against the over/under

Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 18-17-0 against the spread

The Denver Nuggets are 24-10-1 against the over/under

San Antonio Spurs Injuries

No key injuries to report

Denver Nuggets Injuries

01/04/17 F Kenneth Faried Back "?" Thursday vs. San Antonio

Guy's Pick: Take San Antonio -6.5

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Guy Bruhn