Denver Nuggets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Predictions, Free NBA Pick 2/21/2020

Game: Denver Nuggets vs Oklahoma City Thunder

Date: Friday, February 21, 2020

Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, OK

TV: ESPN

Odds/Point Spread: Oklahoma City -1.5

Total/Over-Under: 216.5

Chesapeake Energy Arena is the site where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder (33-22, 3rd in the Northwest Division) will play the Denver Nuggets (38-17, 1st in the Northwest Division) on Friday. Oklahoma City opens this matchup as 1.5 point favorites. The total opens at 216.5.

The Nuggets cover 51.0% of the time, having gone 26-25-4 ATS. Oklahoma City is covering 65.5% of the time, going 36-19-0 against the spread.

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

02/19/20 SG Will Barton Knee is downgraded to doubtful Friday vs Oklahoma City
02/14/20 F Michael Porter Jr. Ankle is questionable Friday vs Oklahoma City
01/22/20 PF Mason Plumlee Foot is out 2-4 weeks

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

02/10/20 SF Darius Bazley Thumb is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Nikola Jokic comes into this game averaging 20.6 points per contest while playing 32.5 minutes per night this year. He grabs 10.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 6.9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 52% while his free throw percentage is 81%. Gary Harris averages 10.2 points per contest in 32.1 minutes per game. He averages 2.2 assists per game and 2.9 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 40% for the season while his free throw percentage is 83%.

Player Spotlight

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 19.5 points per contest while playing 35.5 minutes per game. He hauls in 6.1 rebounds per contest and has 3.2 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 81%. Chris Paul averages 17.4 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 31.8 minutes per game. He also brings in 5.0 rebounds per game and has 6.7 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 90%.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver averages 110.4 points per contest, which is 19th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 3.8 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 10th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 16th in the NBA. They average 44.9 boards per contest and 26.5 assists per game, which ranks them 18th and 3rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 25th with 13.3 per game. The Nuggets allow 106.7 points per contest, which is 5th in the NBA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 15th and 3rd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 43.3 rebounds a game which ranks 6th, and they allow 24.8 assists per game which puts them in 21st place in the league. They force 14.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 14th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Oklahoma City is 17th in the NBA with 110.6 points per contest this season. They are 7th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 2.58. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 18th in the league. They are 22nd in the NBA in rebounding with 43.1 boards per contest and 27th in assists per game with 22.0. The Thunder are 24th in turnovers per contest with 13.6. The Thunder give up 108.0 points per game, which ranks them 10th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 14th and 6th in those defensive statistics. They rank 5th with 22.9 dimes allowed per game and 11th with 44.4 boards surrendered per contest. The Thunder are 8th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.0 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Nuggets are 8th in the NBA in offensive rating with 112.4, and their defensive rating of 108.5 is ranked 10th. In terms of pace they are 29th in the league with 97.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 19th. As a team they are 20th 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 25th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 17th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Oklahoma City is 22nd in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 19th in the NBA. The Thunder are 14th in the league in defensive rating with 108.8, and their offensive rating of 111.4 is ranked 12th. They are 22nd in the NBA in pace with 98.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 11th. As a unit they are 7th in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 24th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Oklahoma City -1.5

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