Houston Rockets vs. Denver Nuggets: 3 Best Bets for Final Matchup
In this story:
The Houston Rockets battle Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets for the final time this season and look to win their regular-season series 3-1 against Denver. Unfortunately for Houston, they have to travel to the Mile High City tonight, and they are winless on the road.
Beating the defending champions on their home court for the first road win of the season is a Herculean task, and the Nuggets need every win they can get if they want to finish the season atop the Western Conference.
Both teams are fairly healthy, Amen Thompson, Jock Landale, and Victor Oladipo are all listed out once again, but that’s nothing new. Vladko Cancar is out for Denver, and Jamal Murray is listed as probable.
Houston is attempting to build on their last win against the Oklahoma City Thunder, while the Nuggets snapped a four-game win streak on Saturday and haven’t won since. Below we have our picks and best bets, powered by SI Sportsbook.
Nuggets guard Jamal Murray controls the ball as Houston Rockets forward Jeff Green (32) guards in the fourth quarter at Ball Arena.
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
The Lines
Point spread: Nuggets -8.5 (-118)/Rockets +8.5 (-105)
Moneyline: Nuggets (-400)/Rockets (+300)
Over/under: 220.5
Our Picks
Safe pick: Alperen Sengun OVER 20.5 points (-120)
Alperen Sengun is averaging 22 points against Denver in three games this season, and 23.2 over his last five games. Scoring over 20 points is routine for him at this point, and he is emerging as one of the best centers in the league, and perhaps the best young center in the NBA. Denver is not a defensive team down low, giving up the 15th most points in the paint. Sengun has shown that he can score from anywhere, especially against this Nuggets team.
Opponent pick: Nikola Jokic to record a triple-double (-105)
Jokic has achieved this in two of the three games he’s played against Houston and is 0.2 assists shy of averaging one on the season. In nine of his 21 games, he has recorded a triple-double, and that’s including his early exit ejection against Detroit. Once again, he is doing something never seen before by an NBA big man, and the -105 odds should tell you exactly what you need to know: Jokic is the best player in the league.
Team pick: Houston Rockets +8.5 (-105)
Houston beat Denver twice in the Toyota Center and lost by ten in their last trip to Colorado. In the final matchup, Houston probably won’t get their first road win but should keep it closer than last time, and they don’t have to do that much better to cover the spread. If Dillon Brooks and Sengun can lead an offense orchestrated by Jalen Green, Denver will be challenged tonight, and with this bet, that’s all we’re asking for.
