The Denver Nuggets (49-24, 30-6 Home) and their sensational offense host the Milwaukee Bucks (53-20, 23-13 Away) and their suffocating defense on Saturday. Milwaukee is playing on back-to-back days after dominating the Utah Jazz 144-116 at Vivint Arena yesterday, their third straight win.
With 25 points, Grayson Allen was the top scorer. Giannis Antetokounmpo added 24 points and 11 assists. The Bucks are two games ahead of the Boston Celtics atop the Eastern Conference, currently sitting in first. Denver found victory on Wednesday at Capital One Arena, beating the Washington Wizards 118-104.
Nikola Jokic had 31 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists, leading the team. The Nuggets are 3.5 games ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies atop the Western Conference, currently sitting in first. This marks the last meeting of the season between the teams.
Milwaukee will be aiming for a season sweep against Denver after winning the only prior game 107-99 at Fiserv Forum on January 25. Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 33 points and 14 rebounds. Aaron Gordon had 26 points and 14 rebounds in the losing effort.
The Bucks have been led this season by Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 31.1 points per game, fifth-highest in the league. Antetokounmpo also has grabbed 11.8 rebounds per game, third-most in the NBA.
Meanwhile, Jrue Holiday is dishing 7.3 assists. Jokic (24.8 ppg) has been the primary provider of the Nuggets’ offense. Jokic has also put up 11.9 rebounds and 9.9 assists per game, for which he ranks second and fourth in the NBA, respectively. The Nuggets rank as the NBA’s second-best team in offensive efficiency, while the Bucks are third in defensive efficiency.
The Bucks are 3-7 in their last 10 trips to Ball Arena. Milwaukee has won three in a row away from home this season. Meanwhile, the Bucks are 9-1 this season when playing two days in a row and 4-1 with a rest disadvantage.
The Nuggets are 7-3 with a rest advantage. In the last 10 games, Milwaukee is 8-2 with an average margin of +8.9 (124.9-116.0). For the season, the Bucks are averaging 116.8 points per game, compared to 112.2 for opponents. Denver has split the last 10 (5-5), scoring 113.2 points per game on average while allowing 112.4 (+0.8 margin).
BUCKS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points per game:
Jrue Holiday: 13.4 | 19.0 | -5.6
Assists per game:
Giannis Antetokounmpo: 7.2 | 5.6 | +1.6
NUGGETS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Thomas Bryant: 4.8 | 16.4 | -11.7
Points per game:
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: 8.2 | 11.0 | -2.8
Rebounds per game:
Thomas Bryant: 1.8 | 5.9 | -4.1
Assists per game:
Jamal Murray: 8.2 | 6.1 | +2.1
SportsTips’ NBA Pick:
Denver Nuggets (-150)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
