Barclays Center hosts a matchup between the Denver Nuggets and the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night. The reigning champion Nuggets are 19-10 this season, including back-to-back wins prior to this meeting. The Nets are 13-14 overall and looking to stop a four-game losing streak. Lonnie Walker IV (hamstring) and Ben Simmons (back) are out for the Nets.
For this game, SportsLine consensus lists the Nuggets as 4.5-point favorites, and tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 230 in the latest Nuggets vs. Nets odds. Before you make any Nets vs. Nuggets picks and NBA predictions, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 9 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 101-52 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning well over $4,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Nuggets vs. Nets and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Nets vs. Nuggets:
- Nuggets vs. Nets spread: Nuggets -4.5
- Nuggets vs. Nets over/under: 230 points
- Nuggets vs. Nets money line: Nuggets -185, Nets +155
- Denver: The Nuggets are 6-10 against the spread in road games
- Brooklyn: The Nets are 10-3-1 against the spread in home games
- Nuggets vs. Nets picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Nuggets can cover
Denver's offense keys its overall effectiveness, but its defense is stout this season. The Nuggets are in the top 10 in defensive efficiency, yielding fewer than 1.13 points per possession. Denver is also in the top 10 in second-chance points allowed, 2-point percentage allowed, 3-point percentage allowed, and assists allowed this season. Additionally, the Nuggets are facing a Nets team that struggles mightily in creating free throws, averaging fewer than 20 attempts per game.
On the offensive side, the Nuggets revolve around two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, who is averaging 26.5 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9.3 assists per game. Jokic is the centerpiece of an offense that is generating almost 1.18 points per possession, and Denver is in the top three in assists (29.6 per game), turnover avoidance (12.1 per game), and points in the paint (55.5 per game). No NBA team has a better assist-to-turnover ratio (2.44) than Denver, and Brooklyn is the league's worst team in turnover creation (11.7 per game) and steals (6.1 per game). See which team to pick here.
Why the Nets can cover
The Nets have been much better at home than on the road this season, including a stellar +5.1 net rating at Barclays Center. Brooklyn is in the top five of the NBA in 3-point percentage (38.4%) and 3-pointers per game (14.7), and the Nets also boost efficiency on the offensive glass. The Nets are grabbing almost 31% of missed shots this season, a top-10 figure in the NBA, and Brooklyn is above-average in assists (26.0 per game) and turnover avoidance (13.2 per game). Denver is in the bottom five of the league in turnover creation on defense, forcing only 12.4 giveaways per game.
On the other end, Brooklyn is able to contest shots in strong fashion. The Nets are in the top eight of the league in field goal percentage allowed (45.7%) and 2-point percentage allowed (51.8%). Brooklyn is also adept at preventing free throw attempts, yielding only 21.0 per game, and Denver struggles at the line. The Nuggets are in the bottom five of the league in free throw creation (20.3 attempts per game) and free throw accuracy (72.5%). See which team to pick here.
How to make Nuggets vs. Nets picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, with only eight players projected to score 11 points or more. The model also says one side of the spread hits in over 50% of simulations. You can only see the model's picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Nets vs. Nuggets, and which side of the spread hits over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 101-52 roll on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.
