After picking up a huge 111-103 home win over the Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, the San Antonio Spurs travel to the Mile High City tonight to complete a home-and-home set with the Nuggets. Sportsbooks opened the Spurs as 4-point road underdogs with a total of 214.
- The Spurs are 16-3 SU in their last 19 games vs the Nuggets.
- The Nuggets are 7-0 SU in their last seven games at home (avg. winning margin: 19.43).
- The total has gone UNDER in seven of the Spurs’ last nine games (avg. combined score: 210.0).
Spurs’ offense is looking like a well-oiled machine
Shooting guard DeMar DeRozan scored 30 points to lead the Spurs past the Nuggets. Winning eight of its past 10 games, San Antonio has scored at least 110 points in all eight wins and continues to put a sluggish start to the season in the rear-view mirror. Power forward LaMarcus Aldridge contributed 27 points of his own against the Nuggets and has scored 20 or more in five of the past seven tilts.
Denver knocked down 18 three-pointers in the setback but went just 17 of 50 on two-point attempts. Center Nikola Jokic wasn’t much of a factor, as the big man tallied just four points on 1-of-5 shooting and notched four rebounds in 31 minutes. Jokic did finish with 10 assists but also committed five turnovers. Denver won both home meetings with the Spurs last season after losing six of the previous seven in Colorado.
Is an UNDER in store?
Just how badly have the Nuggets been beating the opposition at home? Denver has won seven straight home games with a ridiculous average winning margin of 19.4 points. Meanwhile, the Spurs are 5-22 SU in their previous 27 on the road.
When it comes to the total, bettors may be wise to consider the UNDER. The Spurs have gone UNDER in seven of their past nine games with an average combined score of 210 points, while the Nuggets have gone UNDER in eight of their previous 10 with a closing total of 215 points or more.
My pick: take the Nuggets
It’s hard to bet against the streaking Spurs right now, but I think this is the time to do it due to Denver’s penchant for blowing out opponents at home. The Nuggets are the first-place team in the West for a reason, and I expect them to get back on track and pick up a win in front of their hometown fans in this one.
