Denver Nuggets at San Antonio Spurs NBA Picks & Predictions 12/26/2018

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

AT&T Center

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The Denver Nuggets travel to AT&T Center to play the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, December 26, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has San Antonio as 4 point favorites.

The Nuggets have a record of 21-10. They are 1st in the Northwest Division. They have a point differential of 5.7 as they average 110.0 points per game while giving up 104.3 per contest. The Spurs have an overall record of 18-16 this season. They are 2nd in the Southwest Division. They average 111.3 points per game and surrender 109.5, good for a point differential of 1.8.

Valuable Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 19-12-0 against the spread

The Denver Nuggets are 13-18-0 against the over/under

Important San Antonio Spurs Betting Trends

The San Antonio Spurs are 18-15-1 against the spread

The San Antonio Spurs are 19-15-0 against the over/under

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

12/07/18 G Gary Harris Hip is out indefinitely12/07/18 F Paul Millsap Toe is out indefinitely10/22/18 G Will Barton Hip is out indefinitely10/11/18 G Isaiah Thomas Hip is out indefinitely

Key San Antonio Spurs Injuries

11/11/18 C Pau Gasol Foot is out indefinitely10/08/18 G Dejounte Murray ACL is out for season

Player Spotlight

Jamal Murray comes into this contest averaging 17.6 points per game while playing 34.5 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.0 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 43% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 86%. Nikola Jokic averages 18.2 points per game in 30.6 minutes per contest this season. He averages 7.3 assists per contest and 10.0 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 85%.

Player Spotlight

LaMarcus Aldridge averages 18.6 points per game while playing 32.1 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 9.3 rebounds per game and has 2.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 83%. DeMar DeRozan averages 23.1 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 34.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.6 rebounds per contest and 6.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver averages 110.0 points per contest this season, which ranks them 18th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 5.7 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 12th. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 23rd in the league. They average 46.8 rebounds per game and 26.7 assists per game, which ranks them 8th and 4th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 23rd with 13.4 per game. The Nuggets allow 104.3 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 8th and 2nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.3 rebounds a game which ranks 1st and they give up 23.2 assists per contest, which puts them in 9th place in the league. They force 13.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 12th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

San Antonio is 14th in the league with 111.3 points per game this year. They are 5th in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 1.8. They shoot 40% from 3-point range, which is good for 1st in the NBA. They are 17th in the league in rebounding with 44.5 boards per game, and 14th in assists per contest with 24.4. The Spurs are 29th in turnovers per game with 12.1. The Spurs surrender 109.5 points per contest, which ranks them 12th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 21st and 17th in those defensive statistics. They rank 19th with 24.3 assists allowed per contest and 10th with 43.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Spurs were 4th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 12.3 per game last season.

Advanced Statistics

The Nuggets are 8th in the NBA in offensive rating with 112.7, and their defensive rating of 106.9 is ranked 7th. In terms of pace they are 27th in the league with 96.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 18th. As a team they are 19th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 19th in the league. Denver is 24th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 21st in the league.

Advanced Statistics

San Antonio is 29th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 9th in the NBA. The Spurs are 6th in the league in defensive rating with 111.4, and their offensive rating of 113.3 is ranked 19th. They are 25th in the NBA in pace with 97.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 9th. As a unit they are 6th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 27% of their shot attempts, ranking 30th in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Denver +4

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