Denver Nuggets vs Utah Jazz Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 09/03/2024, 05:50  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 09/03/2024 at 13:00 in NBA Prediction

The Utah Jazz will head to the Ball Arena to take on the Denver Nuggets in the NBA on Saturday night. The hosts are 43-20 are third in the Western Conference, while the visitors are 28-35 and 12th in the Conference standings. 

The Utah Jazz have been struggling immensely, having lost nine out of their last 11 games overall. However, they will need to turn their fortunes around following a heartbreaking 119-117 loss to the Bulls on Wednesday. John Collins led the team with an impressive performance, tallying 25 points and 13 rebounds, while Collin Sexton contributed 24 points and seven assists. Despite their offensive prowess, with a ninth-ranking average of 117.7 points per game, the Jazz face a formidable opponent in the Denver Nuggets, who boast the seventh-best defense in the league, allowing just 110.4 points per game. Defensively, the Jazz are struggling, ranking 25th in points allowed per game. Their defense is particularly weak in field goal defense, ranking 20th, and 3-point defense, where they are placed 29th. Additionally, Lauri Markkanen's availability for this match remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets have been in exceptional form, securing victories in seven of their last eight games overall. They will look to maintain their momentum after a notable 115-109 victory over the surging Celtics on Thursday. Nikola Jokic led the charge with an impressive triple-double, recording 32 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists, while Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon contributed 19 points each. Despite averaging 114.4 points per game, which is six points fewer than the 120.4 points the Jazz concede, the Nuggets' standout performance lies on the defensive end. They currently rank 7th in the league in scoring defense, 8th in field goal defense, and 13th in 3-point defense. However, they will be without Vlatko Cancar for this matchup.