The Washington Wizards and Denver Nuggets have a Monday night showdown at Ball Arena. The Wizards are coming off a 123-98 loss against the Utah Jazz at home on Saturday evening.
That was a competitive game before the Jazz pulled away for a blowout in the second-half. Washington had a 51-50 lead going into halftime, though their defense had no answer for a Jazz surge.
Utah scored 31 points in the 3rd and then poured it on with 42 points to turn a close game into a blowout. They are looking good now, but the Wizards are still in a respectable spot at 15-12 on the season.
Tough night. #DCAboveAll | @Ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/vTVqBgrx6M
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) December 12, 2021
The Wizards are just inside the top-8 in the Eastern Conference going into Monday night. They have a half game advantage on the Charlotte Hornets for seventh in the East.
Having said that, the Wizards have lost four of their last five outings. Their only win is a 119-116 final against a bad Detroit Pistons team in overtime.
Subtract the Pistons with a good team, and the Wizards are probably looking at a five-game winning streak going into Monday night.
The Wizards take on a Nuggets team that is coming off a confidence booster of a win over the San Antonio Spurs by a score of 127-112. They were 123-111 losers a game earlier in San Antonio.
Denver is expecting a lot better than 13-13 at this point in the season. Teams with the MVP shouldn’t be flirting around the .500 mark, though injuries have played a role.
28.3 PPG
13.3 RPG
11 APG— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 13, 2021
Nikola Jokic has been absent for some time this season, and Jamal Murray hasn’t played a second, but expectations are still high for the Nuggets. Michael Porter Jr. left a couple of weeks ago with a back injury and is OUT indefinitely.
Injury problems are going to continue to be a problem for Denver tonight. Aaron Gordon is questionable with a back injury this evening. Head below for our free Wizards vs. Nuggets pick on December 13, 2021.
Washington Wizards vs. Denver Nuggets Betting Odds and Team Statistics:
The following odds are courtesy of MyBookie:
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Wizards | +3.5 (-105) | +150 | Over 216 (-110) |
| Denver Nuggets | -3.5 (-115) | -180 | Under 216 (-110) |
| Team Data | Washington Wizards | Denver Nuggets |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Record | 15-12 | 13-13 |
| ATS Record | 12-14-1 | 11-15-0 |
| Away/Home Record | 7-8 | 7-4 |
| ATS Away/Home | 4-10-1 | 5-6-0 |
| Points Per Game | 105.7 | 105.5 |
| Points Against Per Game | 107.4 | 105.5 |
| Field Goal % | 46.2 | 46.4 |
| Three Point % | 32.7 | 34.6 |
Wizards vs. Nuggets Prediction:
The Wizards will be without Kyle Kuzma on Monday night. Kuzma is OUT on the healthy and safety list. His absence against the Jazz was noticeable.
He may not be the best defender in the NBA, but he’s improved and is more help than a liability at this point in his career. The Jazz were able to take advantage of his absence and easily slash to the rim.
Once the Jazz made adjustments going into the second-half, it was over for the Wizards’ defense. The Jazz split the Wizards for 73 points in the 3rd and 4th quarter.
Injuries are impacting the Nuggets, but the MVP of the league is going to be active tonight. Nikola Jokic goes into Monday with an average of 26.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game.
He put in 35 points in a big attempt against the Spurs on Saturday. It’s his second 35-point plus game in two of his last three outings.
Washington Wizards vs. Denver Nuggets Betting Trends:
Wizards
- 0-4-1 ATS in their previous five games
- 1-7 ATS in their previous eight games on one-day rest
- 1-4-1 ATS in their previous six games as an underdog on the road
- OVER is 6-1-1 in their previous eight games
- OVER is 4-1 in their previous five games on one-day rest
Nuggets
- 4-9 ATS in their previous 13 games
- 0-4 ATS in their previous four games after covering the spread
- OVER is 10-1 in their previous 11 games
- OVER is 6-1 in their previous seven games on one-day rest
- OVER is 4-1 in their previous five games as a favorite
The Nuggets have to do a better job bothering teams on their defensive end. Opponents have had success shooting the ball versus the Nuggets with a field goal percentage of 46.9%.
While they’ve allowed a solid 105.5 points per game, it’s partly due to what they can’t control. Teams have shot 74.6% from the free throw line for 24th in the NBA. The Nuggets have just gotten fortunate on that front so far.
Denver is 26th in the NBA at limiting teams from the field at 46.9%. The Wizards are shooting better from the free throw line than what the Nuggets have seen this season, with a free throw percentage of 77.8%.
I can’t see this being a 120-117 game or near 240-point game, but the total looks too low in this spot. In what I envision a 113-108 final score, this one should get to the OVER at Ball Arena in Denver.
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