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Jazz vs Nuggets Game 7 Odds and Picks

Sam Cox

by Sam Cox in NBA Basketball

Updated Sep 1, 2020 · 5:49 AM PDT

Murray driving
Will Jamal Murray keep up his historic pace in Game 7? Photo by @ESPNStatsInfo
  • The Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets have played out an extraordinary series so far culminating in Tuesday night’s Game 7 at 8:30pm EST
  • Fittingly, the two are heading into a Game 7, with the winner facing Kawhi Leonard’s Clippers in round two
  • Get the latest odds, betting discussion and a pick below

The Jazz and Nuggets’ first round meeting didn’t catch the eye on paper. It has been history-making, however, and is poised for a spectacular finale on Tuesday as the two meet in Game 7. The prize is a matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers in the next round.

This is the opportunity for a special comeback from Denver. They were a shambles as they fell 3-1 down, but riding two more epic performances from Jamal Murray, they have forced this series as deep as it can go. Gary Harris returned for Game 6, and his defense will be crucial in the decider.

The latest Utah Jazz vs Denver Nuggets odds show how little there is between these two teams.

Utah Jazz vs Denver Nuggets Game 7 Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Odds at FanDuel Total
Utah Jazz +1 (-110) -102 O 218 (-110)
Denver Nuggets -1 (-110) -116 U 218 (-110)

Odds taken September 1st

Murray Finds Another Gear

What Murray has done in this series is spectacular. He struggled in Games 2 and 3, but he was unstoppable in the other four. His 36 in Game 1 snatched a win despite Donovan Mitchell’s 57, he put up 50 in a Game 4 loss, and followed up with 42 and 50 in Games 5 and 6 respectively. This has been a scoring clinic, a mixture of perimeter shooting, drives to the basket and pulling off contested jumpers.

The former lottery pick is shooting over 64% from the field and 63% from deep over the last three games. He had his moments in the playoffs last year, but nothing came close to this run. The Jazz have no answer for him, and there’s not much a defense can do when he’s making shots like he is at the moment.

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If Murray maintains anything close to the level he’s been at since Game 3, Denver might be unstoppable. The same could be said for Mitchell, though, who is averaging over 38 per game in this series, and shot nine-for-13 from three in Game 6.

With the defenses geared to stop the two young guards getting hot, how they both pass out of traps could be crucial. Murray has passed well at times in this series, as has Mitchell. Finding the open man might define their Game 7 performances as much as their own scoring.

Nuggets Must Limit Utah’s Ball Handlers

The Denver defense went into meltdown earlier in the series. Utah’s array of ball handlers – Mitchell, Jordan Clarkson Joe Ingles and Mike Conley – were able to get where they wanted. Dribble drives were easy for the Jazz, and they are all smart enough passers to move the ball when required.

The Nuggets were all over the place.

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With the pick-and-roll muddling Denver’s defense, Utah was able to get the ball to Rudy Gobert around the cup easily. Gobert was finishing comfortably, and Nikola Jokic was barely effecting anything on the defensive end.

The Jazz were relentless in their assault of Michael Porter Jr., too. The rookie is a phenomenal offensive talent, but he has so much work to do as a defender. Mike Malone might have some difficult decisions to make in Game 7 with Porter.

Denver Edge it

Murray to score over 31.5 points looks like a great bet here. The player props could represent the best value in this one, but if forced to choose, the Nuggets at -1 is probably the best bet presented in the table above.

The return of Harris gives them another perimeter defensive option, which is a major factor given their struggles on that end earlier in the series.

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Murray and Mitchell to both score over 29.5 at +162 is serious value, as is Murray to score over 31.5 and Denver to win.

Pick: Jamal Murray to score over 31.5 points, Denver Nuggets moneyline (+206)

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