Denver Nuggets at Miami Heat NBA Picks & Predictions 1/8/2019

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

American Airlines Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Denver Nuggets travel to American Airlines Arena to play the Miami Heat on Tuesday, January 8, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Miami as 1.5 point favorites.

The Nuggets have a record of 26-11. They are 1st in the Northwest Division. They have a point differential of 5.4 as they average 110.6 points per game while giving up 105.2 per contest. The Heat have an overall mark of 19-19. They currently are 1st in the Southeast Division. They total 106.5 points per contest and give up 105.8, which is a point differential of 0.7.

Valuable Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 21-16-0 against the spread

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

Important Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 20-16-1 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 21-15-0 against the over/under

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

10/22/18 G Will Barton Hip is out indefinitely
10/11/18 G Isaiah Thomas Hip is out indefinitely

Key Miami Heat Injuries

12/19/18 PG Goran Dragic Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Jamal Murray averages 18.5 points per game in 34.5 minutes per contest. He averages 5.0 assists per contest and 4.6 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 43% for the year while his free throw percentage is 83%. Nikola Jokic comes into this contest averaging 18.8 points per game while playing 31.2 minutes per night. He pulls down 10.0 rebounds per game and dishes out 7.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 50% while his free throw percentage is at 84%.

Player Spotlight

Hassan Whiteside averages 12.8 points per game and he sees the court an average of 26.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 12.7 rebounds per contest and 0.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is 45%. Josh Richardson averages 18.3 points per game while playing 34.8 minutes per contest. He grabs 3.9 rebounds per game and has 3.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is at 86%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Nuggets allow 105.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 3rd in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 12th and 2nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.2 rebounds a game which ranks 1st, and they give up 23.6 assists per contest which puts them in 11th place in the league. They force 13.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 11th in the league. Denver averages 110.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 17th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 5.4 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 13th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 14th in the league. They average 47.1 rebounds per game and 27.2 assists per contest, which ranks them 6th and 2nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 20th with 13.5 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Heat surrender 105.8 points per contest, which ranks them 7th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 19th in those defensive statistics. They rank 2nd with 21.9 assists allowed per contest, and 17th with 44.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Heat are 15th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 13.7 per game. Miami is 25th in the league with 106.5 points per game this year. They are 28th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is 0.7. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 12th in the NBA. They are 5th in the league in rebounding with 47.4 boards per game and 20th in assists per contest with 23.3. The Heat are 10th in turnovers per game with 14.4.

Advanced Statistics

The Nuggets are 6th in the league in defensive rating with 108.1, and their offensive rating of 113.7 is ranked 9th. They are 27th in the NBA in pace with 96.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 15th. As a unit they are 19th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 16th in the NBA. Denver is 22nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 19th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Miami is 10th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 30th in the league. The Heat are 22nd in the NBA in offensive rating with 108, and their defensive rating of 107.3 is ranked 7th. In terms of pace they are 21st in the league with 98.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 26th. As a team they are 26th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 9th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Miami -1.5

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald