NBA Picks 3/22 – Denver Nuggets @ Washington Wizards
by Thomas Quaynor – NBA analyst for Wannamakeabet.com
The Denver Nuggets (48-24) are on the road facing the Washington Wizards (32-40) for the second and final time this season. Denver won the first matchup 141-128 on December 14th in Denver as the reigning back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic dominated the Wizards with 43 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists. Denver is a 7-point favorite and the total is 227.5.
Denver sits atop of the Western Conference standings, while Washington is fading fast after three straight losses and a 3-8 record in March (2 of the wins were against 16-57 Detroit) has dropped them to 11th place in the East.
THE SKINNY ON BOTH TEAMS
The Denver Nuggets have been the top team in the Western Conference for the entire season this year thanks in large part to another All-World season from Nikola Jokic, who is averaging 24.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, 9.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game. The return of Jamal Murray (20.1 ppg, 6.1 asts) and Michael Porter Jr. (17.2 ppg, 5.4 rebs) from injuries this season has also been key for Denver’s high level of play.
Murray missed the entire 2021-2022 season after tearing his ACL in April 2021, and Porter Jr. was limited to just 9 games due to a back injury. Forward Aaron Gordon (16.6 ppg, 6.6 rebs, .579 FG%) is having his best season since 2017-2018 with Orlando. Denver’s 48 wins matches the win total they had all of last season when they finished 6th in the West and were a quick first round exit at the hands of the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors. If everyone remains healthy, they seemed poise to make a deep run in the playoffs.
Despite having three 20+ ppg scorers in three-time All-Star Bradley Beal (23.2 ppg), Kristaps Porzingis (career-high 22.9 ppg) and Kyle Kuzma (career-high 21.2 ppg), the Washington Wizards are eight games under .500 and are 2.5 games out of the play-in round.
The Wizards ‘Big 3’ has dealt with a number of injuries as Beal has missed 22 games, Porzingis has missed 11 and Kyle Kuzma is now dealing with an ankle injury that’s caused him to miss a number of games of late and has him doubtful to play tonight. Even when all three are on the floor together, the team has been inconsistent due to poor defensive efforts in the second half of games.
THE PICK
Even though this is the final game of a 5-game east coast road trip for Denver, Washington is coming off a bad loss at Orlando last night and looks like they are making their off-season vacation plans…Lay the 8 and take Denver tonight!!
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