Denver Nuggets at Atlanta Hawks NBA Picks & Predictions 12/8/2018

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Philips Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Denver Nuggets travel to Philips Arena to play the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, December 8, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Denver as 8 point favorites.

The Nuggets have a record of 17-7. They are 1st in the Northwest Division. They have a point differential of 7.4 as they average 110.8 points per game while giving up 103.4 per contest. The Hawks have an overall mark of 5-20. They currently are 5th in the Southeast Division. They total 108.0 points per contest and give up 119.0, which is a point differential of -11.0.

Valuable Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 15-9-0 against the spread

The Denver Nuggets are 9-15-0 against the over/under

Important Atlanta Hawks Betting Trends

The Atlanta Hawks are 9-16-0 against the spread

The Atlanta Hawks are 15-10-0 against the over/under

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

12/05/18 G Gary Harris Hip is questionable Friday vs Charlotte
10/22/18 G Will Barton Hip is out indefinitely
10/11/18 G Isaiah Thomas Hip is out indefinitely

Key Atlanta Hawks Injuries

12/05/18 SF Alex Poythress Ankle is questionable Saturday vs Denver
12/05/18 PG Jeremy Lin Undisclosed injured last game, is questionable Saturday vs Denver
12/05/18 F Omari Spellman Hip is questionable Saturday vs Denver
12/04/18 SF Taurean Prince Ankle is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Gary Harris averages 16.6 points per game in 32.3 minutes per contest. He averages 2.9 assists per contest and 3.2 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 79%. Nikola Jokic comes into this contest averaging 16.5 points per game while playing 29.9 minutes per night. He pulls down 9.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 7.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is at 83%.

Player Spotlight

Trae Young averages 15.7 points per game and he sees the court an average of 29.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.8 rebounds per contest and 7.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 38% and his free throw percentage is 78%. Kent Bazemore averages 12.8 points per game while playing 26.1 minutes per contest. He grabs 3.9 rebounds per game and has 2.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 78%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Nuggets allow 103.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 3rd in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the arc, ranking them 12th and 2nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 41.5 rebounds a game which ranks 1st, and they give up 23.4 assists per contest which puts them in 15th place in the league. They force 14.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 13th in the league. Denver averages 110.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 13th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 7.4 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 9th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 16th in the league. They average 47.1 rebounds per game and 27.1 assists per contest, which ranks them 8th and 4th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 22nd with 13.6 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Hawks surrender 119.0 points per contest, which ranks them 30th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 25th and 30th in those defensive statistics. They rank 30th with 27.7 assists allowed per contest, and 27th with 47.7 rebounds surrendered per game. The Hawks are 29th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 16.6 per game. Atlanta is 22nd in the league with 108.0 points per game this year. They are 24th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is -11.0. They shoot 31% from 3-point range, which is good for 30th in the NBA. They are 22nd in the league in rebounding with 43.5 boards per game and 10th in assists per contest with 24.5. The Hawks are 1st in turnovers per game with 17.8.

Advanced Statistics

The Nuggets are 6th in the league in defensive rating with 105.5, and their offensive rating of 113.1 is ranked 4th. They are 27th in the NBA in pace with 97.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 11th. As a unit they are 16th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shot attempts, ranking 22nd in the NBA. Denver is 21st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 22nd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Atlanta is 1st in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 55%, which is 3rd in the league. The Hawks are 29th in the NBA in offensive rating with 102.4, and their defensive rating of 112.9 is ranked 24th. In terms of pace they are 1st in the league with 105.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 25th. As a team they are 24th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shots, ranking 4th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Atlanta +8

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