Denver Nuggets at Miami Heat NBA Picks & Predictions 3/19/2018

Monday, March 19, 2018

American Airlines Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Denver Nuggets head to American Airlines Arena to take on the Miami Heat on Monday, March 19, 2018. The opening line for this game has Miami as 2 point favorites.

The Nuggets come into this game with an overall record of 38-32. They are 5th in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 1.1 as they are averaging 109.0 points per game while giving up 107.9 per contest. The Heat have an overall record of 37-33. They currently are 2nd in the Southeast Division. They are averaging 102.5 points per game and surrendering 102.5, good for a point differential of 0.0.

Valuable Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 31-36-3 against the spread

The Denver Nuggets are 35-35-0 against the over/under

Important Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 35-30-5 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 32-36-2 against the over/under

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

03/17/18 G Gary Harris Knee is out indefinitely

Key Miami Heat Injuries

03/18/18 C Hassan Whiteside Hip is "?" Monday vs Denver
03/11/18 G Dwyane Wade Hamstring is out indefinitely
01/12/18 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out for season

Player Spotlight

Nikola Jokic comes into this game averaging 17.2 points per contest while playing 31.5 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 10.5 rebounds per contest and distributes 6 assists per game. His FG percentage is 49% while his free throw percentage is 84%. Wilson Chandler averages 10 points per contest in 31.1 minutes per game this year. He averages 2.2 assists per game and 5.2 rebounds per contest for Denver. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 78%.

Player Spotlight

Josh Richardson has scored 13 points per contest while playing 33.2 minutes per game this season for the Heat. He hauls in 3.4 rebounds per contest and has 2.8 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 82%. Goran Dragic averages 17.6 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 31.7 minutes per game. He also brings in 4 rebounds per game and 4.8 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 79%.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver averages 109 points per contest this year, which is 8th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 1.16 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 9th. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 10th in the NBA. They average 44.3 boards per contest and 24.9 assists per game, which ranks them 9th and 4th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 7th with 15.2 per game. The Nuggets allow 107.9 points per contest which is 21st in the NBA. They also surrender a 48% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 30th and 27th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 41.2 rebounds a game which ranks 1st, and they allow 24.5 assists per game which puts them in 25th place in the league. They force 14.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 11th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Miami is 27th in the NBA with 102.5 points per contest this season. They are 19th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 0. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 19th in the league. They are 19th in the NBA in rebounding with 43.2 boards per contest and 20th in assists per game with 22.4. The Heat are 14th in turnovers per contest with 14.5. The Heat give up 102.5 points per game, which ranks them 4th in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 9th and 14th in those defensive statistics. They rank 3rd with 20.7 dimes allowed per game and 10th with 42.4 boards surrendered per contest. The Heat are 8th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Nuggets are 6th in the NBA in offensive rating with 111.9, and their defensive rating of 110.7 is ranked 8th. In terms of pace they are 15th in the league with 97 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 6th. As a team they are 7th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 10th in the league. Denver is 8th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 2nd in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Miami is 10th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 23rd in the NBA. The Heat are 22nd in the league in defensive rating with 106.6, and their offensive rating of 106.6 is ranked 24th. They are 27th in the NBA in pace with 95.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 16th. As a unit they are 18th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 7th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Miami -2

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