Nuggets vs. Warriors Predictions, Picks & Odds: NBA on ESPN, Monday 3/17
Don’t look now, but a Nuggets vs. Warriors matchup may very well be a Western Conference Finals preview. That may be going a bit far for some fans, but regardless, the second game of tonight’s ESPN doubleheader is set to be an epic one. Therefore, we’ve got our best Nuggets vs. Warriors predictions for you.
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Nuggets vs. Warriors Predictions For NBA On ESPN, 3/17
Not only will tonight be the second one of the ESPN doubleheader, but it will also be the second one between these teams this season. The first was back at the start of December, which was a win for the Nuggets.
It’s safe to say that a decent amount has changed since then, specifically for the Warriors and their trade acquisition of Jimmy Butler. He’s had a remarkably positive effect on the team, which we’ll get more into coming up, but it’s one that has Golden State climbing the Western Conference standings.
While they lost that first matchup, from a betting perspective, they narrowly covered the 5.5-point spread with a four-point loss (119-115). So, will it be another cover or an outright win at home tonight? Let’s try and answer that with the best bet from our Nuggets vs. Warriors predictions.
Denver Nuggets: Playing To The Competition
While the Warriors will be looking to bounce back against this specific opponent, the Nuggets will be trying to do so in terms of their most recent game. It was a rather embarrassing loss to a Washington Wizards team that is in a heated battle with the Utah Jazz for the NBA’s worst record this season.
What made the loss even more painful was the fact that Nikola Jokic put up 40 points, and was just one assist shy of yet another triple-double. Worse yet, he scored 56 against the Wizards earlier this season, and the Nuggets still lost that game as well! It seems to be a clear case of playing down to their competition, but tonight’s game is a significant step up in class.
Golden State Warriors: The Jimmy Butler Effect
As promised, more about the Jimmy Butler effect. It’s clear that shipping across the entire country from South Beach to the west coast was the right call for him, as the Warriors are now 14-2 since he joined the team. His effect has been most felt when Stephen Curry is OFF the court.
One of the concerns for Golden State is that their plus/minus when Steph is on the bench is abysmal. However, when their plus/minus is positive while he’s resting, the team is 24-4. Having a guy like Jimmy Butler helps ensure that’s the case, so now it’s all about whether or not we’ll see vintage playoff Jimmy a couple months from now.
Nuggets vs. Warriors Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
With the trajectory both of these teams are on, the Nuggets vs. Warriors odds at BetMGM Sportsbook also suggest a great prime time game tonight:
- Point Spread: Denver Nuggets +2.5 (-110) vs. Golden State Warriors -2.5 (-110)
- Money Line: Denver Nuggets (+125) vs. Golden State Warriors (-145)
- Game Total (Over/Under): Over 239.5 (-110) vs. Under 239.5 (-110)
Nuggets vs. Warriors Best Bet: Denver Money Line (+125 at BetMGM Sportsbook)
After having just gone through how great the Jimmy Butler addition has been for Golden State, it may seem like a strange transition to the best bet from our Nuggets vs. Warriors picks focusing on the Denver side of things.
However, the Warriors’ performance when Stephen Curry is on the bench hasn’t been their only concern. In fact, one of the knocks on Golden State for several years now has been their lack of dominance when they face teams with elite big men. Well, it’s safe to say that’s exactly what the Nuggets have.
In many fan’s eyes, Nikola Jokic is the true MVP, as the all-time great center is averaging a triple-double this season. When the Warriors most physical down-low presence is Draymond Green, that spells disaster for a pure matchup standpoint.
That’s been on full display when Nikola Jokic has faced the Warriors, going for a triple-double in two of the past four meetings with the other two being just one and two assists shy of one. Let’s also not forget that Denver is going to be the team coming into this matchup as fired up as ever after losing to the lowly Wizards.
Denver also has one of the best road records this season at 20-14, so we’re taking the Denver money line (+125 at BetMGM Sportsbook) as the best bet from our Nuggets vs. Warriors predictions.
Nuggets vs. Warriors Injury Report & Starting Lineup
Last but not least to ensure you’re making the best Nuggets vs. Warriors picks possible - the latest injury updates. Denver was without Aaron Gordon against the Wizards on Saturday, while Golden State is eagerly awaiting the return of Brandon Podziemski. As for starting lineups…
DEN Nuggets:
GS Warriors:
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Ivica Zubac had a productive outing, finishing with 27 points (11-of-15 FGs, 5-of-8 FTs), five rebounds, one assist and two blocks in the Game 5 loss to the Nuggets on Tuesday.
Zubac continued to score the ball well, finishing with a series-high in points on efficient shooting. However, Zubac’s usual impact on the glass was absent as he secured just five rebounds in Game 5 after tallying at least nine in the previous four, with his one assist also tying his lowest output of the series. Down in the series 3-2, the Clippers head back to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Thursday, where they face a must-win situation to keep their season alive.
James Harden concluded Tuesday’s Game 5 loss to the Nuggets with 11 points (3-of-9 FGs, 5-of-8 FTs), eight rebounds, five assists and two steals in 35 minutes.
Harden had a quiet night on Tuesday, barely cracking double figures in scoring and failing to register double-digit shot attempts. The 2018 NBA MVP has faced a stifling Nuggets defense that, over the last few games, has forced the ball out of his hands, leading to inferior performances compared to earlier games in the series. Harden will look for a bounce-back performance on Thursday as he tries to lead the Clippers to a season-saving victory in Game 6.
Kawhi Leonard stuffed the stat sheet in Tuesday’s Game 5 loss to the Nuggets, posting 20 points (8-of-15 FGs, 3-of-7 FTs), nine rebounds, 11 assists, one steal, two blocks and one three-pointer.
Leonard did a little bit of everything for the Clippers in Game 5. The two-time NBA Finals MVP posted a series-high in assists and also hit the glass hard, resulting in a near-triple-double. Leonard has scored at least 20 points in all five games of this series. However, the Clippers may need even more from him going forward as they look to extend their season beyond Thursday’s Game 6 at the Intuit Dome.
Nikola Jokic earned a triple-double in the Nuggets’ Game 5 win on Tuesday over the Clippers, finishing with 13 points (4-of-13 FGs, 4-of-5 FTs), 10 rebounds, 12 assists, one steal, two blocks and one three-pointer.
The three-time NBA MVP had a relatively quiet game by his standards, but still came away with his third triple-double of the series. Jokic struggled with shooting efficiency, and his scoring output was the lowest of the series. Yet, his points were not as necessary in this game, given how well the rest of the Nuggets shot the ball. Nevertheless, Jokic will be in line for another big performance on Thursday when the Nuggets face the Clippers in Game 6.
Russell Westbrook came off the bench and produced 21 points (8-of-15 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), one rebound, one assist and three three-pointers in the Nuggets’ Game 5 win over the Clippers on Tuesday.
Westbrook was electric in his first game back in the lineup following a foot injury that kept him out of Game 4. His second-quarter scoring ignited the crowd and helped set the table for what would be his highest-scoring game of the postseason. The 2017 NBA MVP has had himself a nice series thus far from a scoring standpoint and will have a chance to end his former team’s season on Thursday in Game 6.
Jamal Murray had a dominant Game 5 performance in the Nuggets’ win over the Clippers on Tuesday, tallying 43 points (17-of-26 FGs, 1-of-1 FTs), five rebounds, seven assists, three steals, one block and eight three-pointers.
Fresh off a series-low 13 points in Game 4, Murray exploded for a series-high on Tuesday. He totaled nearly as many three-pointers in this game as he had in the previous four combined, while still managing to dish out seven assists. Murray got hot early in this one and never cooled off, and now has provided his Nuggets the opportunity on Thursday in Game 6 to eliminate the Clippers for the second time in the last five seasons.