The daily preview takes it to the rim with NBA tips for a clash between keen Western Conference rivals Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets.
NBA Tips – Utah Jazz V Denver Nuggets
13:00 (AEDT), Wed 27th Oct @ Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City
History: Played 231: Jazz 132 V Nuggets 99
Last meeting: May 7, 2021: Jazz 127 d Nuggets 120 at Vivint Smart Home Arena
Final Thoughts: Utah Jazz head into their third game of the season unbeaten, while Denver Nuggets are on a back-to-back and aiming to bounce back from their first loss.
Rudy Gobert (16 pts, 21 reb) led the Jazz to a 107-86 win over the Thunder in their opening assignment. A late surge on the road then powered Utah to a 110-101 result against Sacramento. Donovan Mitchell hit six threes among a game-high 27 points against the Kings.
The Jazz have since enjoyed a rare four-day break.
The Nuggets chalked up solid victories over 2021 playoffs nemesis the Suns (110-98) and the Spurs (102-96) during first few days of the new campaign. But they came unstuck at home yesterday, crashing 99-87 to the Spurs. Turnovers and poor shooting plagued Denver’s performance.
Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic has nevertheless started the season in imposing form, averaging 27.7 points, 16.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.7 steals. He is shouldering a heavier talismanic load with star guard Jamal Murray on the sidelines.
The Jazz have won 12 of their last 14 against the Nuggets at home, including a late-season 127-120 victory in the sole Salt Lake City clash last season. Bojan Bogdanovic went off for a career-high 48 points.
The well-rested Jazz are hot $1.32 favourites here, but the back-to-back factor may be a positive for the Nuggets if last season’s results are anything to go by. Denver went 11-2 on the second leg of a back-to-back – including 6-1 after losing the first.
The battle between MVP Jokic and DPOY Gobert is an obvious key. The Nuggets also need to limit the Jazz’s outside shooting. But I’ll take the visitors with a very handy start in this one with five of their last six regular-season clashes decided by seven or less.
Tip: Handicap – Nuggets +7 @ $1.93
OTHER NBA GAMES |
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| TEAMS | ||
| New York Knicks V Philadelphia 76ers | Result – Knicks @ $1.74 | |
| Oklahoma City Thunder V Golden State Warriors | Handicap – Warriors -9.5 @ $1.93 | |
| Dallas Mavericks V Houston Rockets | Total – Over 221.5 @ $1.93 | |
| San Antonio Spurs V LA Lakers | Handicap – Lakers -2.5 @ $1.87 | |