Rockets vs Nuggets Predictions NBA Today 4/4
- A Plus Picks
- Apr 3, 2023, 11:46:24 PM
© Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Nuggets vs Rockets - NBA Game Preview April 4, 2023
The Western Conference's first-seeded Denver Nuggets will travel to Toyota Center to play the 15th seed Houston Rockets on Tuesday at 8 p.m. EDT. In this matchup, the Rockets will try to snap a streak of eight defeats, while the Nuggets will try to improve their chances of holding onto their top seed position. The experts and computers both favor the Nuggets to win this game, as Denver has consistently beaten Western Conference opponents, going 33-15 this season. The Nuggets have held opponents to just 112.4 points per game, which is the ninth-best defense in the NBA. On the other hand, the Rockets have the lowest-ranking team record in the league and are only averaging 22.4 assists per game, which is the last in the league. Despite the Rockets' struggles this season, they have some players putting up respectable numbers. Alperen Sengun is averaging 14.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists for Houston. Meanwhile, Jalen Green is averaging 24.9 points over the last ten games. In contrast, the Nuggets' key players, Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, are day-to-day with knee and calf injuries, respectively. The odds makers have set the spread at 8.5 points in favor of the Nuggets, who are expected to win comfortably. If you are looking for an NBA pick with spread or NBA prediction, you may want to consider the Nuggets. Additionally, the Rockets' average of 110.5 points per game is the second-worst offense in the league, so the under may be a good NBA pick as well. In conclusion, the Nuggets vs Rockets NBA match predictions suggest a win for the Nuggets, but the Rockets can prove to be fierce on their home court. Nonetheless, the Nuggets' defense and their superior record make them a good NBA pick with the spread.
Nuggets: Offensive Analysis
The Denver Nuggets have been one of the most consistent offensive teams in the league all season long. Ranking 10th in Points/Game with an average of 116.1, they have been able to put up points at a high rate consistently. Their scoring margin of +3.7 is 6th best in the league and shows that they are able to win games by a comfortable margin. Denver's offense is led by their star center Nikola Jokic, who is averaging 19.1 points over the last 10 games. Jokic's playmaking abilities are also evident in the team's average of 29.0 assists per game, which is the 2nd most in the league. Jamal Murray is another key contributor for the Nuggets, averaging 20.3 points and 6.2 assists per game. In terms of shooting efficiency, the Nuggets are one of the best teams in the league. They rank 2nd in Effective FG% with 57.4%, 3rd in shooting efficiency with 1.195 and 1st in shooting percentage with 50.5%. Their ability to shoot at a high percentage from beyond the arc has also been a key factor in their offensive success. They rank 2nd in Three Point% with 38.3%. Denver's offense is also effective in the paint, ranking 4th in Points in Paint/Game with an average of 54.9. Their fastbreak game is also one of the best in the league, ranking 5th in Fastbreak Points/Game with an average of 16.2. Overall, the Nuggets' offensive prowess makes them a top pick among NBA picks experts, NBA picks computer models, and NBA picks and parlays. Their offensive firepower and consistency make them one of the best offensive teams in the league and give them a great chance to win games.
Nuggets: Defensive Analysis
The Denver Nuggets rank ninth in the NBA for defense, giving up just 112.4 points per game while holding opponents to 47.9% shooting. In the last matchup between the Nuggets and the Houston Rockets on March 1, Denver won 133-112 led by 32 points from Jamal Murray, while Tari Eason scored 17 points for the Rockets. The Nuggets have been dominant on the defensive end in Western Conference play, with a record of 33-15. They are also one of the top teams in the league in terms of opponent points in the paint, allowing just 52.6 per game. Denver's defensive success can be attributed to the strong play of their starting lineup, which includes Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr, and Aaron Gordon. These players have been able to limit their opponents' opportunities while also generating a significant amount of steals and blocks. Additionally, the Nuggets have been effective at defending the three-point line, with opponents shooting just 34.4% from beyond the arc. This ability to limit the long-range shots of their opponents will be crucial in their matchup against the Rockets. Overall, the Nuggets' strong defensive play gives them an advantage over the Rockets in Tuesday's game. NBA picks experts and computer NBA picks, as well as NBA picks and parlays, predict that the Nuggets will come out on top in this matchup.
Rockets: Offense Analysis
The Houston Rockets are set to face the Denver Nuggets in a Western Conference matchup. The Rockets have struggled this season, posting a 19-60 record and ranking last in the league in assists per game. However, they have some talented players on their roster, including Alperen Sengun who is averaging 14.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. Unfortunately for the Rockets, their offense has been lackluster this season, ranking 29th in the league in points per game and 30th in three-point percentage. In their last 10 games, they have only managed to average 111.8 points per game, while their opponents have averaged 124.8 points. On the other hand, the Nuggets have been solid on both ends of the court, with a 52-26 record and ranking ninth in the NBA in points allowed per game. Their offense is also impressive, ranking second in the league in effective field goal percentage and three-point percentage. It's clear that the Rockets will have their work cut out for them if they hope to put up a fight against the Nuggets. NBA picks experts and NBA picks computers are likely to predict a comfortable win for the Nuggets based on their superior offensive and defensive stats. In conclusion, while the Rockets have some talented players on their roster, their lackluster offense and their struggles against Western Conference opponents make it difficult to see them coming out on top against the Nuggets. NBA experts picks are likely to favor the Nuggets in this matchup, and it's hard to argue against that prediction given the two teams' performances this season.
Rockets: Defensive Analysis
The Houston Rockets currently sit at 15th in the Western Conference with a record of 19-60, and their defense has been a key factor in their struggles this season. The Rockets rank last in the league with just 22.4 assists per game, while their opponents have averaged 124.8 points per game over their last 10 games. Despite their defensive struggles, the Rockets have some standout players on that end of the floor. Alperen Sengun has been averaging 8.8 rebounds per game and 1.2 blocks per game, while Kevin Porter Jr. has been averaging 1.4 steals per game. However, the team will be without Jae'Sean Tate due to a knee injury. In their upcoming game against the Denver Nuggets, the Rockets will need to focus on defending the Nuggets' high-powered offense. The Nuggets are ninth in the NBA, giving up just 112.4 points per game, and are led on offense by Jamal Murray, who has been averaging 20.3 points and 6.2 assists per game. The Rockets will have their work cut out for them in trying to slow down Murray and the rest of the Nuggets offense. They will need to focus on their team defense and communication, while also limiting turnovers and fouls. If the Rockets can keep the game close on the defensive end, they may have a chance to pull off an upset. However, with their recent struggles and the Nuggets' strong performance in the Western Conference, the odds are against them. Overall, the Rockets will need to step up their defensive effort and execution in order to have a chance in this game. NBA picks experts and NBA picks computer predictions are not in favor of the Rockets, but with the right defensive adjustments, they could surprise everyone and come out with a win.
Injury Report
Denver Nuggets: - Zeke Nnaji: day-to-day (knee) - Jamal Murray: day-to-day (knee) - Nikola Jokic: day-to-day (calf) - Michael Porter Jr.: day-to-day (heel) - Collin Gillespie: out (leg) - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: day-to-day (illness) Houston Rockets: - Jae'Sean Tate: out (knee) The Nuggets have a few key players listed as day-to-day, including Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, but they have been able to play through any minor injuries in recent games. Collin Gillespie remains out with a leg injury. The Rockets have Jae'Sean Tate listed as out with a knee injury. Overall their injury report is relatively clean.
| Player | Team | Position | Injury Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jae'Sean Tate | Houston Rockets | SF | Out (knee) |
| Zeke Nnaji | Denver Nuggets | PF | Day-to-day (knee) |
| Jamal Murray | Denver Nuggets | PG | Day-to-day (knee) |
| Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | C | Day-to-day (calf) |
| Michael Porter Jr. | Denver Nuggets | SF | Day-to-day (heel) |
| Collin Gillespie | Denver Nuggets | G | Out (leg) |
| Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | Denver Nuggets | SG | Day-to-day (illness) |
Betting Trends
The Denver Nuggets are the clear favorites to win this matchup against the Houston Rockets. According to NBA picks experts, the Nuggets are expected to cover the spread in this game. The Nuggets have been playing well lately, winning six of their last ten games, and they have a strong record of 33-15 in Western Conference play. On the other hand, the Houston Rockets have been struggling, losing eight of their last ten games. NBA picks computers also predict the Rockets to lose against the Nuggets. The Rockets have the worst record in the league and have struggled against Western Conference opponents, only winning 11 of 40 games. In terms of predictions, NBA picks and parlays suggest that the Nuggets will most likely win this game straight up. The Rockets will need an exceptional performance from their top performers, such as Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun, to have any chance of upsetting the Nuggets. When it comes to betting trends, the Nuggets have performed well against the spread, covering in five of their last seven games. Meanwhile, the Rockets have struggled against the spread, failing to cover in seven of their last ten games. In conclusion, based on NBA expert picks and trends analysis, the Denver Nuggets are expected to win this game and cover the spread. The Rockets will need to put together a strong performance to have any chance of winning or covering in this matchup.
Prediction:
The Denver Nuggets are heavy favorites in this matchup against the struggling Houston Rockets. Despite some injuries to key players, the Nuggets have been playing well lately and have a strong record against Western Conference opponents. The Rockets, on the other hand, have been struggling all season and are on a 2-8 stretch in their last 10 games. Injuries to key players may be a concern, but the Nuggets' strong defensive and offensive stats make them a top NBA pick. The Rockets have struggled this season and will need a standout performance to upset the Nuggets. Betting trends favor the Nuggets to cover the spread.
Pick: Nuggets (-10)
