Denver Nuggets vs Cleveland Cavaliers Predictions, Free NBA Picks 3/7/2020

Game: Denver Nuggets vs Cleveland Cavaliers

Date: Saturday, March 7, 2020

Location: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, OH

TV: Fox Sports Ohio

Odds/Point Spread: Denver -6.5

Total/Over-Under: 224

Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is the venue where Collin Sexton and the Cleveland Cavaliers (17-45, 5th in the Central Division) will play the Denver Nuggets (42-20, 1st in the Northwest Division) on Saturday. Denver opens this contest as 6.5 point favorites. The total opens at 224.

The Nuggets are covering the spread 48.3% of the time, having gone 28-30-4 ATS. Cleveland is covering 45.0% of the time, going 27-33-2 against the spread.

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

03/05/20 PG Darius Garland Groin is questionable Saturday vs Denver
03/05/20 C Andre Drummond Calf is questionable Saturday vs Denver
03/05/20 SF Alfonzo McKinnie Plantar Fasciitis is questionable Saturday vs Denver
03/05/20 SG Kevin Porter Jr. Concussion is out indefinitely
03/05/20 C Tristan Thompson Knee is questionable Saturday vs Denver
02/26/20 PG Dante Exum Ankle is out indefinitely
01/13/20 SG Dylan Windler Leg is out for season

Player Spotlight

Nikola Jokic averages 20.7 points per game in 32.3 minutes per contest. He averages 6.8 assists per contest and 10.2 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 53% for the year while his free throw percentage is 82%. Gary Harris comes into this contest averaging 10.2 points per game while playing 31.9 minutes per night. He pulls down 3.0 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 41% while his free throw percentage is at 83%.

Player Spotlight

Kevin Love averages 17.5 points per game and he sees the court an average of 31.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 9.7 rebounds per contest and 3.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 85%. Collin Sexton averages 20.5 points per game while playing 32.7 minutes per contest. He grabs 3.1 rebounds per game and has 2.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Nuggets allow 107.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 8th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 14th and 8th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.7 rebounds a game which ranks 5th, and they give up 25.0 assists per contest which puts them in 22nd place in the league. They force 14.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 11th in the league. Denver averages 110.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 18th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 3.2 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 6th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 17th in the league. They average 44.5 rebounds per game and 26.5 assists per contest, which ranks them 19th and 4th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 24th with 13.6 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Cavaliers surrender 114.9 points per contest, which ranks them 25th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 49% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 30th and 26th in those defensive statistics. They rank 29th with 26.3 assists allowed per contest, and 6th with 43.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Cavaliers are 5th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 12.8 per game. Cleveland is 26th in the league with 106.6 points per game this year. They are 21st in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -8.3. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 20th in the NBA. They are 20th in the league in rebounding with 44.2 boards per game and 25th in assists per contest with 22.8. The Cavaliers are 1st in turnovers per game with 16.4.

Advanced Statistics

The Nuggets are 8th in the NBA in offensive rating with 112.9, and their defensive rating of 109.7 is ranked 13th. In terms of pace they are 29th in the league with 97.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 13th. As a team they are 17th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 27th in the league. Denver is 24th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.9 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 16th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Cleveland is 1st in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 56%, which is 1st in the NBA. The Cavaliers are 24th in the league in defensive rating with 115.7, and their offensive rating of 107.3 is ranked 29th. They are 20th in the NBA in pace with 98.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 22nd. As a unit they are 23rd in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 18th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Denver -6.5

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