The Denver Nuggets and the Utah Jazzsquare off on Monday afternoon in Game 1 of what should be a highly-competitive Western Conference series in the 2020 NBA Playoffs. Donovan Mitchell and Jamal Murray face off in an intriguing backcourt battle, with Nikola Jokic and Rudy Gobertmatching up at the center position. Mike Conley (not with team) will miss the game for the Jazz, joining Bojan Bogdanovic (wrist) as regular starters that are unavailable for Utah.
Now, the model has set its sights on Nuggets vs. Jazz. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the NBA odds from William Hill and trends for Jazz vs. Nuggets
- Nuggets vs. Jazz spread: Nuggets -4.5
- Nuggets vs. Jazz over-under: 214.5 points
- Nuggets vs. Jazz money line: Nuggets -185, Jazz +165
- DEN: The Nuggets are 4-4 against the spread in the last eight games
- UTAH: The Jazz are 4-4 against the spread in the last eight games
Why the Nuggets can cover
While the Jazz present matchup issues for any team, the Nuggets have plenty of edges to exploit. Denver has genuine offensive star power with Jokic, averaging 19.9 points, 9.7 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game this season, and he is joined by a bevy of additional options. Murray, averaging 18.5 points and 4.8 assists per game, leads the attack on the perimeter, with Michael Porter Jr. averaging more than 20 points per game in the Orlando bubble.
All told, Denver boasts a dynamic offense that ranks in the top five of the NBA in points per possession. Defensively, the Nuggets are not nearly as stout, and they have struggled in Orlando. Against a Jazz team playing short-handed, though, those weaknesses could be mitigated, and Denver has a path to controlling the glass against a Utah squad that rarely generates second-chance opportunities.
Why the Jazz can cover
Utah is a balanced team, boasting above-average units on both ends of the floor. The Jazz are known for their defense, keyed by Gobert, and Utah ranks in the top 10 in shooting efficiency allowed, turnover creation and keeping opponents away from the free throw line.
While Jokic is difficult to defend, Gobert provides size and rim protection, with Quin Snyder's scheme maximizing the available talent. Offensively, the Jazz are also quite efficient, ranking No. 2 in the NBA in effective field-goal percentage for the season. Denver's defense has been porous in Orlando and, with Gobert and Mitchell on board, Utah should be able to maintain a quality offensive attack, even while shorthanded.
How to make Nuggets vs. Jazz picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, with Mitchell and Porter Jr. projected to exceed their scoring averages. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time. You can only get the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Jazz vs. Nuggets? And which side of the spread hits in well over 50 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Nuggets vs. Jazz spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up over $4,700 on its top-rated NBA picks this season, and find out
