Utah Jazz at Denver Nuggets NBA Picks & Predictions 1/5/2018

Friday, January 5, 2018

Pepsi Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Utah Jazz travel to Pepsi Center to play the Denver Nuggets on Friday, January 5, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Denver as 7.5 point favorites.

The Jazz come into this game with an overall record of 16-22. They are 5th in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of -0.6 as they are averaging 101.1 points per game while giving up 101.7 per contest. The Nuggets have an overall mark of 20-17. They currently are 3rd in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 107.9 points per contest and giving up 105.9, which is a point differential of 2.0.

Valuable Utah Jazz Betting Trends

The Utah Jazz are 19-19-0 against the spread

The Utah Jazz are 17-20-1 against the over/under

Important Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 18-18-1 against the spread

The Denver Nuggets are 17-20-0 against the over/under

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

12/26/17 PG Raul Neto Concussion is out indefinitely
12/16/17 C Rudy Gobert Ankle is out indefinitely
10/06/17 PG Dante Exum Shoulder is out indefinitely

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

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

Player Spotlight

Donovan Mitchell averages 18.3 points per game in 30.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.4 assists per contest and 3.2 rebounds per game for Utah. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 86%. Rodney Hood comes into this contest averaging 17 points per game while playing 28.8 minutes per night so far this season for the Jazz. He pulls down 2.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.7 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 41% while his free throw percentage is currently at 86%.

Player Spotlight

Gary Harris averages 16.6 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 34.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.8 rebounds per contest and 3.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 81%. Will Barton averages 14.8 points per game while playing 31 minutes per contest this year for the Nuggets. He grabs 5.1 rebounds per game and has 3.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage currently is at 73%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Jazz allow 101.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 5th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the arc, ranking them 16th and 25th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.5 rebounds a game which ranks 20th, and they give up 19.9 assists per contest which puts them in 2nd place in the league. They force 15.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 26th in the league. Utah averages 101.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 27th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -0.61 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 24th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 12th in the league. They average 40.4 rebounds per game and 21.2 assists per game, which ranks them 26th and 23rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 17th with 14.4 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Nuggets surrender 105.9 points per contest, which ranks them 17th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 27th and 18th in those defensive statistics. They rank 24th with 24.1 assists allowed per contest, and 1st with 40.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Nuggets are 16th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.7 per game this season. Denver is 8th in the league with 107.9 points per game this year. They are 8th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 1.95. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 15th in the NBA. They are 4th in the league in rebounding with 45.6 boards per game and 6th in assists per contest with 23.6. The Nuggets are 7th in turnovers per game with 15.6.

Advanced Statistics

The Jazz are 21st in the league in defensive rating with 106.8, and their offensive rating of 106.2 is ranked 22nd. They are 27th in the NBA in pace with 95 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 17th. As a unit they are 16th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 8th in the NBA. Utah is 12th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 14th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Denver is 8th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 6th in the league. The Nuggets are 6th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110.8, and their defensive rating of 108.8 is ranked 13th. In terms of pace they are 18th in the league with 96.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 8th. As a team they are 9th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 10th in the league.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Denver -7.5

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