Nuggets vs Nets Picks and Odds
- The Nuggets will visit the Barclays Center on Tuesday to face the Nets
- Denver is looking for their third-straight win, while Brooklyn has lost two consecutive games
- Get the odds, preview, and best bet below for this contest
The Denver Nuggets will finish out their three-game road trip at the Barclays Center where they’ll take on a struggling Brooklyn Nets squad on Tuesday, December 12th, tip-off 7:30 PM EST.
Kyrie Irving will miss his fourth-straight contest for the Nets on Tuesday due to personal reasons. Kevin Durant will be looked upon to carry the load offensively, but it’s evident by Brooklyn’s record that Kyrie’s absence has certainly been felt.
In 2019-20, these two teams split the season series with one win apiece.
Denver Nuggets vs Brooklyn Nets Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Nuggets | +1 (-110) | -102 | O 231.5 (-110) |
| Brooklyn Nets | -1 (-110) | -116 | U 231.5 (-110) |
Odds taken January 12th at FanDuel
Nuggets Riding on Jokic’s Red-Hot Start
Currently 5-5, it hasn’t been a great beginning to the season for Denver. Although it was Jamal Murray who took a huge leap in the postseason for the Nuggets last season, it’s been Nikola Jokic who has been showing out on a nightly basis so far and leading the way.
The Serbian big man is averaging a triple-double this season with 24.4 points, 10.4 assists, and 11.2 rebounds through 10 appearances.
Jokic has been dishing out some ridiculous dimes this year, even collecting 18 of them in a win over James Harden and the Houston Rockets on December 28th. It was common knowledge that the Denver star was a talented passer, but he’s taken the skill set to a whole new level this season.
Murray has been up and down to this point, dropping 19.7 points per night. It’s also been an all-around effort from the entire roster though, with seven players registering double-digits in scoring.
Sunday’s win over New York was a dominant performance, leading by as many as 30 en route to a 114-89 victory. Murray had a night to forget, but along with Jokic, the likes of Paul Millsap, Gary Harris, and PJ Dozier made up for the lack of production from their Canadian guard.
Mike Malone’s team does have a 112.9 defensive rating this season, which is 25th in the league. Their presence on the glass has been practically non-existent as well, with just 42.7 rebounds per night, which also leaves them towards the bottom of the NBA.
The Nuggets’ 49.4 field goal percentage leads the association while also boasting the second-best offensive rating. Denver’s defense must improve though if they want to be competitive in a heavily packed Western Conference.
Kyrie’s Absence Hurting Nets
Frankly, no one really knows what’s going on with Irving. He will miss yet another game on Tuesday, which leaves Steve Nash’s offense shorthanded once again. Coming into this season, Brooklyn was a heavy favorite to compete for an NBA title with Kyrie and KD at the forefront.
Durant has been brilliant, averaging 29.3 points, 4.7 dimes, and 7.6 assists. Irving’s numbers were extremely similar until he decided to sit out as these two superstars were forming quite the partnership at the Barclays Center.
Nash recently said there’s no timetable on the former Celtics star’s return, leaving the Nets scratching their heads. They’ve already lost six of their last nine games and sit at 5-6 currently, with Durant also missing time due to COVID-19 contact tracing. Along with Spencer Dinwiddie’s season-ending injury, it hasn’t been an ideal start for this team.
When actually on the court together, Irving and KD form one of the purest scoring duos in the league. Both complement each other’s skill sets extremely well, while the likes of Caris LeVert and Joe Harris have also offered respectable production offensively.
However, Brooklyn needs to cut down the turnovers, registering 16.4 points per game. They’ve also struggled defensively, giving up 113 points per night. In the paint, Jarrett Allen and DeAndre Jordan have been outplayed at times. Both players will need to be more physical moving forward, especially when one of their two stars aren’t playing.
Best Bet
Brooklyn heads into this contest as slim 1-point favorites. The odds frankly aren’t favoring either team here. However, I do believe it’s a safe bet to put your money on Denver. They’re on a winning streak and the Nets are having a difficult time finding any rhythm right now. With Nikola Jokic in town, things won’t get any easier. The Nuggets are the best choice here as Brooklyn continues to deal with Irving’s absence.
Pick: Denver Nuggets +1 (-110)
Quinn Allen is a sports journalist, with a background and education in broadcast journalism (BCIT '17). He is a full-time associate editor at ClutchPoints by day, where he writes about soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and more. At night, Quinn is a frequent contributor at SBD.
