NBA Dallas Mavericks vs Denver Nuggets Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 12-18-2018, 21:00 EDT

Spread: Denver Nuggets -5

Total: +207.5

In this battle between two Western Conference squads on opposite trajectories, one of the biggest surprises of the season so far, the Dallas Mavericks, who have lost two straight and want to bounce back, are visiting the team with the best record in the West, the Denver Nuggets, who on the other hand have won three straight.

Mavericks re 15-13 so far in the league and are tied with 2 more squads in the sixth place of the Western Conference. They have lost their last two games and in their latest matchup they got defeated by Sacramento at home, 113-120. Nuggets are 20-9 so far in the league and are tied with Golden State on top of the Western Conference. They have won their last three games and in their latest matchup they were victorious against Toronto at home, 95-86.

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Dallas are led in scoring by Luka Doncic with 18.2 ppg. The rookie also adds 6.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, while Harrison Barnes follows with 17.8 ppg, adding 4.3 rebounds per game. Denver are led in scoring by Nikola Jokic with 17.7 ppg. He also leads the team both in rebounding with 7.5 and in assists made with 9.9 per game, while Jamal Murray follows with 17.5 ppg, adding 4.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.

Those two teams met 4 times last year with both teams winning two time at home and Denver winning by 91-89 and 105-102. Denver are 12-3 at home so far, while Dallas are 2-10 on the road. Dallas have a better offense with 109.6 ppg to Denver’s 109.4, while Denver have a better defense, allowing 102.9 ppg to Dallas’ 108.1 ppg. Denver have a better accuracy from the field, shooting with 46.2% to Dallas’ 45.5% and both squads have almost the same accuracy from behind the arc (34.3% and 34.2%). Denver dominate all the other statistical categories, being better in rebounding (47.1 to 45.8), assists per game (26.7 to 22.6) and committing fewer turnovers (13.5 to 15.9). Mavericks don’t pose a threat in Denver so pick the Nuggets for an easy home win tonight.

Dallas Mavericks vs Denver Nuggets Prediction: Denver Nuggets -5 (-108)