The Denver Nuggets (15-10, 6-3 Home) play host to the Utah Jazz (15-13, 6-8 Away) Saturday in what may turn out to be a high-scoring game. Utah is playing on back-to-back days after losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves 118-108 at Vivint Arena yesterday. Malik Beasley was the standout player in the losing effort with 23 points.
The Jazz are sixth in the Western Conference. Denver won a close one on Thursday at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter, beating the Portland Trail Blazers 121-120. Nikola Jokic had 33 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists to lead the team. The Nuggets are 1.5 games back in the Western Conference, currently sitting in fourth.
It’s the last meeting of the season between the teams. Utah and Denver have split their two matchups this season. The Nuggets got the win in the last meeting, beating the Jazz 117-101 at Ball Arena on October 28. Bones Hyland led the Nuggets with 26 points, while Michael Porter Jr. played a key role with 22 points and 13 rebounds.
Lauri Markkanen had 17 points in the losing effort. The Jazz have been led this season by Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson, who are averaging 22.2 and 19.8 points per game, respectively. Both are among the league’s top scorers, as Markkanen is No. 1 and Clarkson is first.
Markkanen also has grabbed 8.5 rebounds per game, most in the league, while Clarkson has dished 4.9 assists per game, most in the NBA.
Jokic has supplied much of the Nuggets’ offense, averaging 23.5 points per game. He is the No. 1 scorer in the NBA. Jokic has also posted 10.0 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game, for which he ranks first and first in the NBA, respectively.
The Nuggets and the Jazz are two of the most productive offenses in the league, ranking second and fifth in offensive efficiency, respectively. The Jazz have come up short in recent trips to Ball Arena, losing six of the last 10. Utah is looking to avoid a fourth successive road loss this season.
Meanwhile, the Jazz are 3-4 when playing on consecutive nights this season and 2-2 in such games against opponents with at least a day of rest. The Nuggets are 1-3 with a rest advantage.
In the last 10 games, Utah is 3-7 with an average margin of -1.6 (117.4-119.0). Denver has a 6-4 record over the last 10, scoring 115.1 points per game on average while holding opponents to 112.4 (+2.7 margin).
JAZZ HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Walker Kessler: 18.6 | 12.2 | +6.4
Points per game:
Collin Sexton: 18.8 | 14.3 | +4.4
Rebounds per game:
Walker Kessler: 8.4 | 5.6 | +2.8
NUGGETS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: 10.8 | 15.8 | -5.0
SportsTips’ NBA Pick:
Denver Nuggets -7.5 (-115)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
