The 18-42 Jazz will host the 37-24 Nuggets tonight at 9 PM EST. The Jazz will be without Jaren Jackson Jr., Walker Kessler, Lauri Markkanen, Jusuf Nurkic, Vince Williams Jr., and Kevin Love. The Nuggets have not yet submitted their injury report as of 12:08 PM EST.
The Nuggets are 11.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook with the total for this game set at 243.5 points.
Jazz vs. Nuggets prediction, preview
We should be getting plenty of action tonight as the Jazz’s NBA-worst rated defense with a DEFRTG of 120.7 hosts the offensive juggernaut that is Denver. The Nuggets have floated a top three defense for most of the season that’s orchestrated by Nikola Jokic. Jokic has had some injury issues this season and likely won’t be able to play enough games to qualify for postseason awards, but he’s simply on another level right now. He’s averaging 28.8 PPG, 12.6 RPG, and 10.5 APG, and it’s getting a bit absurd. Jokic is also leading the league in both rebounds and assists per game while shooting 57% from the floor. He’s striking for 40.1% from three-point territory as well, even if that’s not the main part of his game he’s concerned about; he just wants you to know that he’s a three level scorer.
The Nuggets’ offense has been methodical and efficient under Jokic’s game control. As a team, they’re shooting 39.2% from three-point territory, which is the best mark in the league. Their defense has seen better days, given they’re missing Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson. They’ll hope to return to full strength to make a serious playoff run.
The Jazz, on the other hand, play fast and without much defense. They’re consistently leaking on that side of the ball, conceding a league-worst 30.5 opponent APG, signaling an inability to carry out their defensive scheme, or rather a lack of any scheme whatsoever, perhaps. Given how shorthanded they are tonight, missing most of their starting lineup and all of their serviceable defenders, it’s going to get ugly for Utah tonight.
Jazz vs. Nuggets pick, best bet
Best Bet: DEN Nuggets -11.5 (-115)
The Nuggets under Nikola Jokic should have no problems dicing up this Jazz defense. The game can and should reach blowout-territory by the end of the third, and a 20-point victory would be reasonable to see here.
