Oklahoma City Thunder at Denver Nuggets NBA Picks & Predictions 12/14/2018

Friday, December 14, 2018

Pepsi Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder head to Pepsi Center to take on the Denver Nuggets on Friday, December 14, 2018. The opening line for this game has Oklahoma City as 2.5 point favorites.

The Thunder head into this matchup with a mark of 17-9. They are 2nd in the Northwest Division. They have a point differential of 6.4 as they average 111.7 points per contest while giving up 105.2 per game. The Nuggets have an overall mark of 18-9. They currently are 1st in the Northwest Division. They total 110.0 points per contest and give up 103.7, which is a point differential of 6.3.

Valuable Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 15-11-0 against the spread this season

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 12-14-0 against the over/under this year

Important Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 16-11-0 against the spread this season

The Denver Nuggets are 11-16-0 against the over/under this year

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

10/04/18 G Andre Roberson Knee is out indefinitely

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

12/07/18 G Gary Harris Hip is out indefinitely
12/07/18 F Paul Millsap Toe is out indefinitely
10/22/18 G Will Barton Hip is out indefinitely
10/11/18 G Isaiah Thomas Hip is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Paul George averages 24.3 points per contest in 34.8 minutes per game this year. He averages 4.3 assists per game and 7.9 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 83%. Dennis Schroder comes into this game averaging 17.0 points per contest while playing 29.5 minutes per night. He grabs 4.3 rebounds per contest and distributes 4.9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 43% while his free throw percentage is 88%.

Player Spotlight

Jamal Murray averages 17.4 points per game and he sees the court an average of 34.4 minutes per game. He also hauls in 4.2 rebounds per game and dishes 4.9 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 85%. Nikola Jokic scores 17.1 points per contest while playing 30.4 minutes per game. He hauls in 9.8 rebounds per contest and has 7.6 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Thunder allow 105.2 points per contest which is 5th in the NBA. They also surrender a 45% shooting percentage and a 32% average from 3-point range, ranking them 9th and 4th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 44.2 rebounds a game which ranks 12th, and they allow 23.7 assists per game which puts them in 15th place in the league. They force 17.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 30th in the NBA. Oklahoma City averages 111.7 points per contest, which is 11th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 6.4 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 19th. From 3-point territory they shoot 32%, which is good for 29th in the NBA. They average 48.5 boards per contest and 22.9 assists per game, which ranks them 3rd and 21st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 12th with 14.7 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Nuggets give up 103.7 points per game, which ranks them 4th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 45% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 11th and 3rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 11th with 23.6 dimes allowed per game and 1st with 41.8 boards surrendered per contest. The Nuggets are 12th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.0 per contest. Denver is 17th in the NBA with 110.0 points per contest this season. They are 12th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 6.3. They shoot 34% from beyond the arc, which is good for 22nd in the league. They are 7th in the NBA in rebounding with 47.2 boards per contest and 3rd in assists per game with 26.8. The Nuggets are 23rd in turnovers per contest with 13.5.

Advanced Statistics

The Thunder are 19th in the NBA in offensive rating with 109.1, and their defensive rating of 102.8 is ranked 1st. In terms of pace they are 6th in the league with 102.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 23rd. As a team they are 24th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 18th in the league. Oklahoma City is 16th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.9 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 26th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Denver is 24th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.9 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 19th in the league. The Nuggets are 8th in the NBA in offensive rating with 112.4, and their defensive rating of 106 is ranked 6th. In terms of pace they are 27th in the league with 97.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 16th. 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 21st in the league.

So what is Tonights Parlay prediction?

Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take Denver +2.5 and under 216 total points

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