Denver at Detroit
Time: 6 PM CT (NBA LP)
Spread: DEN -3.5
Total: 209.5

Odds c/o 5dimes

DEN TEAM NOTES:

Key behind the Denver Nuggets’ unorthodox attack is the play of “point-center” Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets run its offense through its talented 5-man, and Jokic leads all centers in assists per game at 7.5 per game. Adding that to his 19.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game produce a team-best PER of 26.1 as Jokic is quietly one of the league’s best big men. His strong passing abilities enable the Nuggets to play Jamal Murray at the point guard position where he ranks No. 2 on the team in scoring at 18.3 points per game. The Nuggets have been without Will Barton the majority of the season, too, which is no small loss as he is the team’s No. 3 offensive option.

Oddly, Paul Millsap’s role has declined heavily this season and the former All-Star is averaging under 13 points per game. The Nuggets have a deep rotation of talented scorers and average 110.3 points per game with six players averaging double-figures. Among those is Monte Morris at 10.0 points per game and Malik Beasley nearly at 9.8 per game. Both are talented guards that are finally receiving their chances in the Denver Nuggets backcourt following the jettisoning of one-time Nugget Emmanuel Mudiay.

Denver also is able to go into its second unit and produce a similar style play given the talents of backup center Mason Plumlee. He functioned as a point-center of sorts while in Portland and he averages 2.4 assists per game in under 20 minutes of play. The Nuggets have a legitimate 9 or 10-man rotation and with Jokic it truly possesses a franchise player capable of making game-changing plays and having phenomenal nightly performances. Not many are still sleeping on what the Nuggets might be capable of in the 2019 postseason.

DET

The Detroit Pistons are seven games below .500 and currently seeded No. 9 in the Eastern Conference standings. Detroit trails No. 8 Miami by two games for the East’s final playoff spot.

The Pistons have lost three of its last four games, with losses to the L.A. Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks. It also defeated Dallas over that stretch.

The Pistons surrendered a 25-point lead in its loss to the Clippers, losing 101-111 in a disappointing affair. Reggie Jackson shot 11 of 22 for 29 points in the loss, and Blake Griffin added 24 points, six assists, and 11 rebounds while posting a +1 mark for his 42 minutes of play. Despite those standout performances, the Pistons shot just 42 percent in the game and were out-rebounded by a nine-rebound margin. The Pistons have been strong defensively in allowing just 108.3 points per game, but its offense has not got the job done: Detroit averages just 105.5 points per game, ranking No. 25 in the Association. It is No. 26 in assists per game, at just 22.1 per contest. Detroit connects on just 11.4 threes per game at a 33.3 percent clip and it shoots just 43.3 percent from the field on the season.

ATS TRENDS: