Houston Rockets at Denver Nuggets NBA Picks & Predictions 2/25/2018

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Pepsi Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Houston Rockets travel to Pepsi Center to play the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, February 25, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Houston as 5 point favorites.

The Rockets come into this game with an overall record of 45-13. They are 1st in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 8.9 as they are averaging 114.2 points per game while giving up 105.3 per contest. The Nuggets have an overall mark of 33-26. They currently are 3rd in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 108.1 points per contest and giving up 107.0, which is a point differential of 1.1.

Valuable Houston Rockets Betting Trends

The Houston Rockets are 29-28-1 against the spread

The Houston Rockets are 26-31-1 against the over/under

Important Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 28-28-3 against the spread

The Denver Nuggets are 28-31-0 against the over/under

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

02/24/18 G Eric Gordon Illness is "?" Sunday vs Denver

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

11/21/17 F Paul Millsap Wrist is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

James Harden comes into this contest averaging 31.3 points per game while playing 35.7 minutes per night so far this season for the Rockets. He pulls down 5 rebounds per game and dishes out 9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is currently at 87%. Chris Paul averages 19.1 points per game in 32 minutes per contest this season. He averages 8.3 assists per contest and 5.8 rebounds per game for Houston. His field goal percentage is 47% for the year while his free throw percentage is 91%.

Player Spotlight

Nikola Jokic averages 17.2 points per game while playing 31.5 minutes per contest this year for the Nuggets. He grabs 10.6 rebounds per game and has 6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage currently is at 85%. Gary Harris averages 17.6 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 34.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.7 rebounds per contest and 3.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston averages 114.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 2nd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 8.88 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 12th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 12th in the league. They average 43.7 rebounds per game and 21.9 assists per game, which ranks them 15th and 22nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 20th with 13.9 per game. The Rockets allow 105.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 12th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 20th and 12th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 41.4 rebounds a game which ranks 2nd and they give up 23 assists per contest, which puts them in 13th place in the league. They force 14.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 16th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver is 8th in the league with 108.1 points per game this year. They are 9th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 1.07. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 11th in the NBA. They are 8th in the league in rebounding with 44.5 boards per game, and 4th in assists per contest with 24.5. The Nuggets are 8th in turnovers per game with 15.2. The Nuggets surrender 107 points per contest, which ranks them 19th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 48% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 30th and 25th in those defensive statistics. They rank 26th with 24.5 assists allowed per contest and 1st with 40.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Nuggets are 13th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.2 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Rockets are 1st in the NBA in offensive rating with 116, and their defensive rating of 106.9 is ranked 22nd. In terms of pace they are 11th in the league with 98.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 2nd. As a team they are 2nd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 51% of their shots, ranking 1st in the league. Houston is 21st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 11th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Denver is 11th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 3rd in the league. The Nuggets are 6th in the NBA in offensive rating with 111.2, and their defensive rating of 110.1 is ranked 9th. In terms of pace they are 16th in the league with 96.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 7th. As a team they are 10th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 9th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Houston -5

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