The Detroit Pistons host the Denver Nuggets in an interconference matchup! It's time to continue our NBA odds series with a Nuggets-Pistons prediction and pick.
The Denver Nuggets are 24-21 on the season which is good for 6th place in the Western Conference. They are coming off a win against this Pistons team 117-111 on Sunday. Detroit is 11-35 which is the second-worst record in the NBA in front of the Orlando Magic (9-39). This will be the second time they meet in two days so let's get right to the prediction and pick.
Here are the Nuggets-Pistons NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: Nuggets-Pistons NBA Odds
Denver Nuggets: -7.5 (-110)
Detroit Pistons: +7.5 (-110)
Over: 216.5 (-110)
Under: 216.5 (-110)
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Why The Nuggets Could Cover The Spread
This spread doesn't make much sense to me. Denver is coming off of a 6-point win over the Pistons at home last time out. Now, they are favored by seven on the road? The Nuggets play very well at home and they did so when they beat the Pistons. Detroit played pretty well also staying in the game until the very end. If the Nuggets are to cover this bigger spread, they must defend Cade Cunningham and Corey Joseph. Those two guards are playing very well right now. Cunningham, the rookie, is rising on that leaderboard and could work his way up to being the favorite for Rookie of the Year. Joesph is a veteran who has been around the league. They both scored 18 in the loss to Denver on Sunday and they will likely be the primary factors in this game as well.
Because they are playing each other back-to-back, we probably won't see much of a difference in game plans for both sides. The Nuggets just need to play a little harder than they did at home because even though the Pistons aren't very good, they are better at home. Seven of their 11 wins are at Little Ceasers Arena and so the Nuggets will have to find a way to disrupt any flow the Pistons might be on.
Why The Pistons Could Cover The Spread
This isn't going to be an easy game to cover for the Pistons, but they have a better chance this game than last. This is a pretty big spread considering it was a close game last time. Detroit isn't a very good team and they are extremely young. I do not expect them to win this game at all but they can cover if they keep it close again. Their No. 1 priority is to contain 2020-21 MVP Nikola Jokic. If they can do that, then they will cover this spread and possibly even upset the Nuggets. They will need Isaiah Stewart and Trey Lyles to help try and stop him. Kelly Olynyk and Luke Garza will be out due to covid-19 protocols. That will make it a little tougher for them to contain him.
There really isn't much else the Pistons need to focus on. The Nuggets run through Jokic and if doesn't play well, the team doesn't. He's the heartbeat of the Nuggets and putting pressure on him will force them to break. Denver is the better team at the end of the day and they will likely find a way to win, but the Pistons have a chance to cover. It's going to take an elite game from Cunningham but he is very capable of doing so.
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Final Nuggets-Pistons Prediction & Pick
Denver won this last game and home and I think they will do the same on the road. But I'm taking the Pistons to cover this seven-point spread. I believe the Pistons will play better as they are fresh off of facing them and they know how to gameplan for them. The Pistons are also better against the spread at 22-23 than Denver who is 18-26 on the season.
Final Nuggets-Pistons Prediction & Pick: Pistons +7.5 (-110)
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