Denver Nuggets vs Washington Wizards Betting Pick & Prediction 12/7/24
The Washington Wizards (2-18) will host the Denver Nuggets (11-9) at Capital One Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 ET. The Nuggets are favored by 14 points and have a moneyline of -1059. The over/under line is set at 231.5.
Denver is currently 8th in the Western Conference, while the Wizards are 15th in the East. Washington has lost 16 straight games and is 5th in the Southeast Division. This is a non-conference matchup.
DENVER NUGGETS VS WASHINGTON WIZARDS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Denver Nuggets -14
This game will be played at Capital One Arena at 7:00 ET on Saturday, December 7th.
WHY BET THE DENVER NUGGETS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 121-88 in favor of the Nuggets.
- Our projections have Nikola Jokic finishing with 28 points, 13 rebounds and 9 assists.
- From the field, we have the Nuggets finishing with a field goal percentage of 48.9% and knocking down 11 threes.
Will the Nuggets Pull Through as the Favored Road Team?
Denver fell to 11-9 on the season after a 126-114 road loss to Cleveland on Thursday. The Nuggets entered the game as +3.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread, while the total score of 240 points went over the pre-game line of 233.
Denver got off to a slow start, trailing 37-27 after the 1st quarter. They bounced back in the 2nd, outscoring the Cavs 35-29, but an 11-0 run by Cleveland in the 3rd quarter put the game out of reach. The Nuggets went into the 4th down 102-87 and couldn’t close the gap, despite outscoring the Cavs 27-24 in the final period.
Nikola Jokić’s 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 11 assists weren’t enough for the Nuggets in their loss to the Cavaliers, as they struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 6 threes at a 25% clip. Jokić scored 12 of his points in the 1st quarter, while Michael Porter Jr. added 8 of his 24 points in the 4th, knocking down 3 threes at 50% efficiency.
Jamal Murray contributed 19 points, and Aaron Gordon added 18, with 9 coming in the 2nd quarter. The Nuggets shot 47.9% from the field overall, but their 3-point shooting woes were a key factor in the loss.
Defensively, the Nuggets struggled against the Cavaliers, giving up 126 points on 50% shooting. Denver allowed 37 points in the 1st quarter and 36 in the 3rd, though they tightened up in the 4th, allowing just 24 points.
The Nuggets particularly struggled defending the three, as Cleveland hit 22 threes at a 45% clip. Denver sent the Cavaliers to the line 16 times, where they made 10 free throws. The Nuggets finished with 12 steals and 5 blocks.
Is an Upset Waiting to Happen at Home?
The Wizards fell to 2-18 on the season after a 137-101 loss to the Mavericks on Thursday. Washington, who were +13.5 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread. The game’s total of 238 points went over the pre-game line of 232.
Dallas took control early with a 15-0 run, breaking a 6-6 tie and jumping out to a 21-6 lead. The Wizards couldn’t recover, as the Mavericks outscored them in every quarter, including a 35-24 edge in the 4th.
In their 137-101 loss to the Mavericks, the Wizards shot just 39.4% from the field. They hit 13 threes, shooting 32.5% from beyond the arc.
Marvin Bagley and Malcolm Brogdon led the Wizards with 16 points each, with Bagley shooting 63.6% from the field. Bub Carrington added 15 points, hitting 3 threes.
Defensively, the Wizards struggled throughout the game, allowing 137 points to the Mavericks. They gave up at least 31 points in every quarter, including 37 in the 2nd. Washington couldn’t contain Dallas, who shot 53% from the field.
The Wizards also had trouble defending the three, with the Mavericks hitting 20 threes at a 52% rate. Washington sent Dallas to the line 27 times, where they made 21 free throws. The Wizards recorded 10 steals and 3 blocks in the game.