Denver Nuggets at Houston Rockets NBA Picks & Predictions 2/9/2018

Friday, February 9, 2018

Toyota Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Denver Nuggets travel to Toyota Center to play the Houston Rockets on Friday, February 9, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Houston as 5 point favorites.

The Nuggets come into this game with an overall record of 29-25. They are 3rd in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 1.1 as they are averaging 107.0 points per game while giving up 105.9 per contest. The Rockets have an overall mark of 40-13. They currently are 1st in the Southwest Division. They are averaging 114.0 points per contest and giving up 105.8, which is a point differential of 8.2.

Valuable Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 25-26-3 against the spread

The Denver Nuggets are 23-31-0 against the over/under

Important Houston Rockets Betting Trends

The Houston Rockets are 26-26-1 against the spread

The Houston Rockets are 24-28-1 against the over/under

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

11/21/17 F Paul Millsap Wrist is out indefinitely
01/31/18 C Mason Plumlee Calf is out indefinitely

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

02/08/18 G Eric Gordon Back is "?" Friday vs Denver
02/08/18 F Ryan Anderson Ankle is "?" Friday vs Denver
01/29/18 F Trevor Ariza Hamstring is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Nikola Jokic comes into this contest averaging 16.5 points per game while playing 31.7 minutes per night so far this season for the Nuggets. He pulls down 10.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is currently at 85%. Gary Harris averages 17.6 points per game in 35 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.2 assists per contest and 2.8 rebounds per game for Denver. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 84%.

Player Spotlight

Chris Paul averages 19.5 points per game while playing 32.1 minutes per contest this year for the Rockets. He grabs 5.7 rebounds per game and has 8.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage currently is at 91%. James Harden averages 31.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 36 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.9 rebounds per contest and 9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 87%.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver averages 107 points per contest this season, which ranks them 10th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 1.06 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 11th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 13th in the league. They average 45 rebounds per game and 24.1 assists per game, which ranks them 5th and 4th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 8th with 15.4 per game. The Nuggets allow 105.9 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 16th in the league. They also allow a 48% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 27th and 25th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 40.9 rebounds a game which ranks 1st and they give up 24.4 assists per contest, which puts them in 26th place in the league. They force 14.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 12th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston is 2nd in the league with 114 points per game this year. They are 12th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 8.25. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 10th in the NBA. They are 14th in the league in rebounding with 43.5 boards per game, and 22nd in assists per contest with 21.9. The Rockets are 17th in turnovers per game with 14.2. The Rockets surrender 105.8 points per contest, which ranks them 15th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 22nd and 26th in those defensive statistics. They rank 14th with 22.9 assists allowed per contest and 2nd with 41.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Rockets are 17th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.8 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Nuggets are 6th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110.3, and their defensive rating of 109.3 is ranked 10th. In terms of pace they are 16th in the league with 96.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 8th. As a team they are 12th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 9th in the league. Denver is 6th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 5th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Houston is 18th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 8th in the NBA. The Rockets are 1st in the league in defensive rating with 107.1, and their offensive rating of 115.5 is ranked 22nd. They are 8th in the NBA in pace with 98.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 2nd. As a unit they are 2nd in the league in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 50% of their shot attempts, ranking 1st in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Houston -5

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