Denver Nuggets vs Utah Jazz Prediction, 8/21/2020 NBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Denver Nuggets vs Utah Jazz

Date: Friday, August 21, 2020

Location: AdventHealth Arena in Orlando, Florida

TV: TNT

Odds/Point Spread: Denver -1.5

Total/Over-Under: 220

Jamal Murray and the Denver Nuggets go to AdventHealth Arena on Friday where they'll meet the Utah Jazz in Game 3 of their series. Denver opens this contest as 1.5-point favorites. The total has been set at 220.

The series is tied 1-1 after Utah won in convincing fashion in Game 2 by a score of 124-105. Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 30 pts, 8 dimes, and 1 board. Nikola Jokic led Denver in the losing cause by collecting 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists.

The Nuggets cover 47.9% of the time, having gone 34-37-4 ATS. Utah is covering 48.6% of the time, going 35-37-2 against the spread.

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

08/19/20 SG Gary Harris Hip is questionable Friday vs Utah
08/18/20 SG Will Barton Knee is out indefinitely
08/12/20 SF Vlatko Cancar Foot is out indefinitely

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

08/19/20 PG Mike Conley Quarantine is questionable Friday vs Denver
08/16/20 C Ed Davis Knee is out for series vs. Denver
06/28/20 SF Bojan Bogdanovic Wrist is out for season

Player Spotlight

Jamal Murray comes into this game averaging 18.5 points per contest while playing 32.3 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.0 rebounds per contest and distributes 4.8 assists per game. His FG percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is 88%. Nikola Jokic averages 19.9 points per contest in 32.0 minutes per game. He averages 7.0 assists per game and 9.7 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 53% for the season while his free throw percentage is 82%.

Player Spotlight

Donovan Mitchell scores 24.0 points per contest while playing 34.3 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.4 rebounds per contest and has 4.3 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 86%. Joe Ingles averages 9.8 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 29.7 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.9 rebounds per game and has 5.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 79%.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver averages 111.3 points per contest, which is 19th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 2.1 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 4th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 15th in the NBA. They average 44.1 boards per contest and 26.7 assists per game, which ranks them 20th and 4th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 24th with 13.8 per game. The Nuggets allow 109.2 points per contest, which is 11th in the NBA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 17th and 17th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 42.6 rebounds a game which ranks 4th, and they allow 25.4 assists per game which puts them in 24th place in the league. They force 14.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 14th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah is 18th in the NBA with 111.3 points per contest this season. They are 6th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 2.47. They shoot 38% from beyond the arc, which is good for 1st in the league. They are 13th in the NBA in rebounding with 44.9 boards per contest and 26th in assists per game with 22.4. The Jazz are 10th in turnovers per contest with 15.1. The Jazz give up 108.8 points per game, which ranks them 9th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 12th and 14th in those defensive statistics. They rank 1st with 21.5 dimes allowed per game and 5th with 42.7 boards surrendered per contest. The Jazz are 2nd in the league in forcing turnovers with 12.3 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Nuggets are 5th in the league in defensive rating with 111, and their offensive rating of 113.1 is ranked 16th. They are 29th in the NBA in pace with 97.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 9th. As a unit they are 15th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 27th in the NBA. Denver is 23rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 14th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Utah is 6th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 23rd in the NBA. The Jazz are 10th in the league in defensive rating with 109.9, and their offensive rating of 112.3 is ranked 13th. They are 26th in the NBA in pace with 98.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 2nd. As a unit they are 2nd in the league in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shot attempts, ranking 8th in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Utah +1.5

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