The NBA’s first round of the 2019 playoffs has frankly been boring. The only series that has a chance to go to a Game 7 is Nuggets–Spurs, with San Antonio a short home NBA Betting favorite on Thursday to indeed force a Game 7 back in Denver on Saturday.
How to Bet Nuggets vs Spurs NBA Odds & Game Info
Simple Mathematics #NBAPlayoffs #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/mLMtbGAjIS
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) 25 de abril de 2019
- When: Thursday, 8 PM ET
- Where: AT&T Center
- TV: TNT
- Live Stream: NBA League Pass
- Radio: Spurs Broadcast
- NBA Odds: San Antonio Spurs -3 (Total 208.5)
Why Bet on Denver?
The Nuggets have looked like clearly the better team in winning the past two games to take a 3-2 series lead as they look to advance for the first time in a decade. On Tuesday, it was a 108-90 home blowout victory. The Nuggets raced to their first first-quarter lead of the series and never looked back. They turned a four-point game into a 15-point lead just before the end of the first half with a 14-3 run. Denver dominated in all facets of the game, as they shot a higher percentage from the field and from three while also tallying more rebounds, assists, and blocks.Jamal Murray hit 9-of-16 shots and four 3-pointers for a game-high 23 points, four rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block in just 28 minutes. Murray has scored either 23 or 24 points in three of his last four games. He had a six-point dud in Game 3, but has otherwise been a team leader for the Nuggets in this series, and has hit 57 percent of his shots over his last two. He’s dealing with a sore right shoulder that was wrapped in ice after Tuesday’s win, but he’s in no danger of sitting Thursday.
Nikola Jokic hit 5-of-11 shots, two 3-pointers and 4-of-4 free throws for 16 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, two steals and a block in 33 minutes in Game 5. Jokic has double-doubled in four of the five games in this series and has recorded at least seven assists in all five games. Jokic is now averaging 19.6 points, 11.6 rebounds and 9.0 assists in his first playoff series.
Gary Harris added 23 points, Will Barton scored 17, Paul Millsap added 14 points and six boards, and new starter Torrey Craig had 10 rebounds and a block in the easy win.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 110.55
- Field Goal Percentage: 46.61
- Three-Point Percentage: 35.44
- Free Throw Percentage: 75.34
- Total Rebounds: 46.24
Defense
- Total Score: 106.53
- Field Goal Percentage: 45.85
- Three-Point Percentage: 33.87
- Free Throw Percentage: 75.23
- Total Rebounds: 42.70
Why Bet on San Antonio?
The Spurs did have one of the NBA’s best home records during the regular season at 32-9 but did lose Game 4 there to the Nuggets by double digits. San Antonio never was really in Game 5.LaMarcus Aldridge hit 7-of-13 shots and a 3-pointer for 17 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and a block in 31 minutes. DeMar DeRozan also scored 17 but hit just 6-of-15 shots. Jakob Poeltl started and played 26 minutes on Tuesday, hitting 6-of-7 shots for a playoff career-high 12 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.
Derrick White had 12 points (5-11 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 1-3 FT), two rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 22 minutes. Since a career-high 36 points in Game 3, White has been held to a total of 20 points and 8-of-19 shooting since after Denver coach Mike Malone switched Gary Harris onto White to start while inserting Torrey Craig into the starting lineup for Will Barton and putting Craig on DeMar DeRozan.
Once again, the Spurs’ second unit was a no-show, while giving up 38 points to Denver’s bench Big Three of Will Barton (17), Malik Beasley (11) and Monte Morris (10).
San Antonio shot 20-of-46 inside the paint, several of the missed shots coming on easy layups the Spurs normally make. The 26 missed shots inside are tied for their second-most in a game this season, including playoffs. In a 5:21 span of the first quarter, the Spurs managed only one field goal and missed seven consecutive shots. In the second quarter, they had another stretch of 5:01 with only one basket. y halftime, Denver led 53-42. When the Nuggets opened the third quarter on a 17-4 run, it was effectively game over.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 111.18
- Field Goal Percentage: 47.75
- Three-Point Percentage: 38.97
- Free Throw Percentage: 81.34
- Total Rebounds: 44.77
Defense
- Total Score: 109.90
- Field Goal Percentage: 46.35
- Three-Point Percentage: 36.17
- Free Throw Percentage: 75.35
- Total Rebounds: 43.92
Nuggets vs Spurs 2019 NBA Playoffs Betting Trends
- Spurs are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record
- Nuggets are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games following an ATS win
- Denver is 4-2 SU in their last 6 games against San Antonio
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Denver’s last 6 games on the road
- San Antonio is 6-1 SU in their last 7 games played on a Thursday
- San Antonio is 6-1 SU in their last 7 games played on a Thursday
