It figures to be a high-scoring affair when the Denver Nuggets (3-2, 2-0 Home) welcome the Utah Jazz (4-1, 2-1 Away) on Friday. Utah beat the Houston Rockets 109-101 at Vivint Arena on Wednesday. With 24 points, Lauri Markkanen was the scoring leader. Jordan Clarkson chipped in with 20 points and six rebounds.
The Jazz are one game behind the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference, currently sitting in second. Denver found victory on Wednesday at Ball Arena, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 110-99. Nikola Jokic had 31 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists, carrying the team.
The Nuggets are the 11th seed in the Western Conference. The teams are meeting for the final time this season. After taking the only earlier season game against Denver 123-102 at Vivint Arena on October 19, their sixth straight head-to-head victory, Utah will be seeking a season sweep. Collin Sexton led the Jazz with 20 points, while Markkanen played a key role with 17 points.
Jokic had 27 points and six assists in defeat. Markkanen and Clarkson, averaging 22.0 and 18.8 points per game, respectively, are leading the Jazz in scoring early this season. Meanwhile, Jarred Vanderbilt is grabbing 9.8 rebounds per game, and Mike Conley is dishing 7.8 assists.
Jokic has powered the Nuggets’ offense, averaging 22.4 points per game. Jokic has also averaged 10.8 rebounds and 9.4 assists per game, for which he ranks eighth and fifth in the league, respectively. The Jazz and the Nuggets are averaging 118.8 and 114.4 points per game, respectively, ranking first and fourth in the NBA in scoring. The Jazz have come up short more often than not in recent visits to Ball Arena, losing six of the last 10.
SportsTips’ NBA Pick:
Denver Nuggets (-350)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
