NBA Denver Nuggets vs Utah Jazz Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 01-23-2019, 22:30 EDT

Spread: Utah Jazz -3.5

Total: +216.5

In this battle between two teams sitting on mirror sides of the playoff spots of the West, the 2^nd Denver Nuggets, looking to extend their current small winning streak, are hosting the 7^th Utah Jazz, who saw a big winning streak getting snapped and want to return to the winning ways.

Nuggets are 31-14 so far in the league and are sitting on the 2^nd place of the Western Conference, half a game behind the Warriors. They are 3-1 in their last 4 games and in their latest matchup they were victorious against Cleveland at home, 124-102. Jazz are 26-22 so far in the league and are sitting on the seventh place of the Western Conference. In their latest matchup they saw 6 six-game victory streak end with a home defeat by Portland, 104-109.

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Denver are led in scoring by by Nikola Jokic with 19.6 ppg. He also leads the team both in rebounding with 10 and in assists made with 7.7 per game, while Jamal Murray follows with 18.8 ppg, adding 4.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. Gary Harris adds 15.5 ppg and 3.1 rebounds. Utah are led in scoring by Donovan Mitchell with 22 ppg. He also adds 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, while Rudy Gobert follows with 14.9 ppg and leads the team in rebounding with 13.1 per game. Ricky Rubio adds 12.8 ppg and leads the team in assists made with 6 per game.

This will be the second meeting between those two teams so far this season with Denver having won the previous one at home by 15 points. Utah are 13-9 at home, while Denver are 11-10 on the road. Denver have a better offense with 111.3 ppg to Utah’s 108.3 ppg, while Utah have a better defense, allowing 105 ppg to Denver’s 106.2. Denver have a better accuracy both from the field (46.8% to 46%) and from behind the 3-point line (35.8% to 34.3%). Nuggets are better all across the board, including assists (27.5 to 24.7) and rebounds per game (46.7 to 45.3) and they also commit fewer turnovers (13.1 to 15). Utah have been playing much better lately and pick them for the home win tonight.

Denver Nuggets vs Utah Jazz Prediction: Utah Jazz -3.5 (-108)