San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets NBA Picks & Predictions 12/28/2018

Friday, December 28, 2018

Pepsi Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The San Antonio Spurs travel to Pepsi Center to play the Denver Nuggets on Friday, December 28, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Denver as 3 point favorites.

The Spurs head into this matchup with a mark of 19-16. They are 2nd in the Southwest Division. They have a point differential of 2.0 as they average 111.3 points per contest while giving up 109.3 per game. The Nuggets have an overall mark of 21-11. They currently are 1st in the Northwest Division. They total 109.8 points per contest and give up 104.5, which is a point differential of 5.3.

Valuable 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

Important 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

Key San Antonio Spurs Injuries

11/11/18 C Pau Gasol Foot is out indefinitely
10/08/18 G Dejounte Murray ACL is out for season

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

LaMarcus Aldridge averages 18.9 points per game in 32.1 minutes per contest. He averages 2.1 assists per contest and 9.1 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 83%. DeMar DeRozan comes into this contest averaging 23.3 points per game while playing 35.0 minutes per night. He pulls down 5.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 6.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is at 84%.

Player Spotlight

Jamal Murray averages 17.4 points per game and he sees the court an average of 34.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.5 rebounds per contest and 4.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 86%. Nikola Jokic averages 17.7 points per game while playing 30.6 minutes per contest. He grabs 9.8 rebounds per game and has 7.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Spurs allow 109.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 14th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 19th and 23rd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.9 rebounds a game which ranks 10th, and they give up 24.4 assists per contest which puts them in 21st place in the league. They force 12.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 5th in the league. San Antonio averages 111.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 13th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 2.0 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 7th. Behind the arc they shoot 40% which is good for 1st in the league. They average 44.7 rebounds per game and 24.6 assists per contest, which ranks them 17th and 12th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 30th with 12.0 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Nuggets surrender 104.5 points per contest, which ranks them 4th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 45% shooting percentage and a 32% average from 3-point range, ranking them 10th and 2nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 10th with 23.3 assists allowed per contest, and 3rd with 42.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Nuggets are 11th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 13.6 per game. Denver is 18th in the league with 109.8 points per game this year. They are 13th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 5.3. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 17th in the NBA. They are 8th in the league in rebounding with 46.8 boards per game and 4th in assists per contest with 26.8. The Nuggets are 23rd in turnovers per game with 13.4.

Advanced Statistics

The Spurs are 7th in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.2, and their defensive rating of 111.2 is ranked 19th. In terms of pace they are 25th in the league with 97.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 11th. As a team they are 6th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 28% of their shots, ranking 30th in the league. San Antonio is 29th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 10.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 12th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Denver is 24th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 20th in the NBA. The Nuggets are 8th in the league in defensive rating with 107, and their offensive rating of 112.4 is ranked 7th. They are 27th in the NBA in pace with 97 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 18th. As a unit they are 20th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 19th in the NBA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Denver -3

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