Underdog Nets Look to Hang with Nuggets Despite Depleted Backcourt

Denver is off to a strong start but has struggled against the spread. The Nuggets host an underachieving Brooklyn team Thursday that is feeling the wrath of the injury bug; it’s a prime opportunity for Denver to get a SU and ATS victory, and bettors should jump on board.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

Despite their early ATS struggles, the Nuggets open at -7, due to Brooklyn’s poor play and the fact that Caris LeVert is out and Kyrie Irving is questionable to play. If Irving is officially ruled out, expect the line to swell even more in Denver’s favor.

Brooklyn News & Notes

The Nets have had a disappointing start to their season, winning only four of their first 10 games, and things are now going to get even harder Thursday as Brooklyn may be without its starting backcourt and two of its top three scorers.

Shooting guard Caris LeVert missed Tuesday’s loss to Utah and is out indefinitely with a right thumb sprain, while point guard Kyrie Irving, the NBA’s third-leading scorer, is questionable with a right shoulder impingement.

If both of their starting guards cannot play, the team will look to Spencer Dinwiddie and Garrett Temple to fill their shoes. Dinwiddie is currently second on the team with 17.1 points per game, but he’s going to need to produce a lot more to match Irving’s near 30 points per game — and it won’t come easy against Denver’s fourth-ranked defense.

Denver News & Notes

The name of the game in the early season for Denver is defense: the Nuggets allow the fourth-fewest points per game but also score the fourth-fewest points per game. It’s been a winning formula recently as Denver has held opponents to under 100 points in four of the last five games —  each of those four games victories that finished UNDER the total.

Despite the 7-3 start to the season, Denver is looking for more production from star Nikola Jokic, who averages 17 points, 9.0 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game, but those numbers are a bit below his stats last season.

Jokic has turned it up a bit recently, topping 20 points in four of his last five games, and he is primed for a big game against a Nets team that struggles defensively and is very weak in the frontcourt.

Betting Pick: Nuggets -7

Brooklyn struggles to stop anyone defensively at the best of times, but with LeVert out and Kyrie either sitting or playing at less than 100 percent? I’ll take the Nuggets every time.