Denver Nuggets vs Utah Jazz 10/19/2022 NBA Odds and Prediction

The Denver Nuggets open their 2022-23 campaign at the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Wednesday night where they face the Utah Jazz.

Denver is looking to bounce back after an injury-riddled 2021-22 campaign where they were eliminated in the opening round of the 2022 playoffs by the eventual champions Golden State Warriors. The Nuggets missed Jamal Murray throughout the campaign while Michael Porter Jr. went in and out of the lineup due to injury. Despite that, Nikola Jokic had another MVP season.

Utah blew up their playoff team after yet another postseason disappointment. The team gave away four of their starters Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Royce O’Neale, and Bojan Bogdanovic. The Jazz got a massive haul from those trades but right now, the team doesn’t have a legit go-to guy that every successful NBA team needs.

Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokic is the happiest Denver Nuggets player right now. With his side kicks Jamal Muray and Michael Porter Jr. back in action, the Joker won’t have to carry the team as he did during the previous two seasons. Back when the trio was healthy, the Nuggets made it to the West Finals where they lost to the Lakers in 2020. With Murray and MPJ back plus the addition of veterans like KCP and Ish Smith, the Nuggets are looking for another run at the title.

Denver ranked 10th in the league in scoring at 112.7 points per game last season. They were 14th in scoring defense at 110.4 points per game allowed. The Nuggets shot the ball at 48.3% to rank second overall. They also shot 35.3% from deep and 79.5% from the foul line. Jokic led the Nuggets with 27.1 points and 13.7 rebounds per game on his way to his second straight MVP award. Murray put up 21.2 points per game prior to getting hurt.

Utah Jazz

The Jazz are clearly in rebuild mode after giving away four of their starters during the offseason. Only Mike Conley remains as Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Royce O’Neale are all gone. Even Joe Ingles is no longer in town. Utah still has flame thrower Jordan Clarkson and has added players like Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkannen, Malik Beasley, and Talen Horton-Tucker. However, it’s hard to imagine that group winning it all this season.

The Jazz were 10th in scoring defense last season at 107.6 points per game allowed. They were 7th in scoring at 113.6 points per game scored. Utah also ranked 1st in rebounding at 41.6 boards per contest. Sexton averaged 16 points per game for the Cavs last season. Utah also added power forward Markkanen who will give them the much-needed offensive boost after losing Mitchell. Clarkson is also still there but there are rumors that the Jazz are poaching the former 6th Man of the Year winner.

Nuggets vs Jazz SU Prediction

The Nuggets are 0-5 SU in their last five games played against the Jazz. Denver is just 2-14 SU in their last 16 games played in Utah.

Denver Nuggets SU trends:

• The Nuggets are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games played.

• The Nuggets are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games played on the road.

• The Nuggets are 6-1 SU in their last 7 road games as betting favorites.

• The Nuggets are 13-5 SU in their last 18 October games.

Utah Jazz SU trends:

• The Jazz are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games played.

• The Jazz are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games played at home.

• The Jazz are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games against the Northwest Division.

• The Jazz are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games against the Western Conference.

Three seasons ago, the Nuggets were in the West Finals. However, with Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. missing games due to injuries, the Nuggets were not able to contend during the past two campaigns. However, with both expected to be healthy to start the year, Denver should be able to get enough scoring pop to give Nikola Jokic some rest after carrying the Nuggets this past two campaigns.

The Nuggets even added more talent in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Ish Smith, and Bruce Brown. With Bones Hyland expected to improve further this year, the Nuggets are going to be a handful for any opponent. Then of course there is Jokic, who was named MVP in the last two seasons.

The Jazz blew up their team during the offseason, losing Royce O’Neale, Rudy Gobert, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Donovan Mitchell. Although they still have holdovers like Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson, this isn’t the same Utah team that was a perennial playoff contender in the league.

Utah did get a good haul from the trades they made. They have added Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Malik Beasley, Talen Horton-Tucker, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. However, this team doesn’t have a go-to guy in the mold of Jokic or even Jamal Murray. Not much is expected of the Jazz this season and they may be better off tanking to get a chance at drafting Victor Wembanyama in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Prediction: Denver Nuggets

Nuggets vs Jazz ATS Prediction

The Nuggets are 1-4 ATS in their last five games played against the Jazz. Denver is also 5-13 ATS in their last 18 meetings in Utah.

Denver Nuggets ATS trends:

• The Nuggets are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games played.

• The Nuggets are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 road games.

• The Nuggets are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.

• The Nuggets are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.

• The Nuggets are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 games played against the Northwest Division.

• The Nuggets are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games playing on 3 or more days rest.

• The Nuggets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight-up win.

• The Nuggets are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following an ATS win.

Utah Jazz ATS Trends

• The Jazz are 18-39-4 ATS in their last 61 games overall.

• The Jazz are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games.

• The Jazz are 9-3-2 ATS in their last 14 games following a double-digit loss at home.

• The Jazz are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games playing on 3 or more days rest.

• The Jazz are 16-33-4 ATS in their last 53 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.

• The Jazz are 16-35-2 ATS in their last 53 games following a straight-up loss.

• The Jazz are 15-35-3 ATS in their last 53 games following an ATS loss.

• The Jazz are 14-34-3 ATS in their last 51 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.

• The Jazz are 8-20-2 ATS in their last 30 games following a straight-up loss of more than 10 points.

• The Jazz are 13-35-4 ATS in their last 52 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.

• The Jazz are 4-15-2 ATS in their last 21 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.

With a stacked starting unit, the Denver Nuggets are going to be hard to stop offensively. Denver’s first five has plenty of good shooters like Murray, KCP, and Michael Porter Jr. Add in Jokic and Gordon and I expect the Nuggets to be a fast starter.

I can’t say the same for a Jazz team that is in rebuild mode after trading Gobert and Mitchell during the offseason. Utah however has some very good scorers in Sexton, Markkanen, Clarkson, Beasley, and even THT. They should be able to put up enough points to make this game a little competitive

In the end, however, Denver has more experience, more talent, and more offensive firepower. This should be a double-digit win for the Nuggets.

Prediction: Denver Nuggets -7.5

Nuggets vs Jazz Over/Under Prediction

The total has gone over in 10 out of the last 15 head-to-head meetings between these two teams. The over is also 4-1 in their last five games played in Utah.

Denver Nuggets over/under trends:

• The over is 5-1 in the Nuggets’ last 6 overall.

• The over is 4-1 in the Nuggets’ last 5 road games.

• The over is 5-1 in the Nuggets’ last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.

• The over is 5-1 in the Nuggets’ last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.

• The over is 5-1 in the Nuggets’ last 6 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.

• The over is 7-2-1 in the Nuggets’ last 10 games following an ATS win.

• The over is 5-2 in the Nuggets’ last 7 games playing on 3 or more days rest.

• The over is 40-19-2 in the Nuggets’ last 61 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.

Utah Jazz over/under trends:

• The under is 6-2 in the Jazz’s last 8 overall.

• The under is 10-1 in the Jazz’s last 11 games played in October.

• The under is 5-1 in the Jazz’s last 6 games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.

• The under is 5-1 in the Jazz’s last 6 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.

• The under is 4-1 in the Jazz’s last 5 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.

• The under is 4-1 in the Jazz’s last 5 games following an ATS loss.

• The under is 4-1 in the Jazz’s last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.

• The under is 4-1 in the Jazz’s last 5 games following a straight-up loss of more than 10 points.

• Over is 4-1 in the Jazz’s last 5 Wednesday games.

• Over is 5-1 in the Jazz’s last 6 games playing on 3 or more days rest.

Denver and Utah were both in the Top 10 in the NBA in scoring last season with the Nuggets at 112.7 points per game scored and the Jazz at 113.6 points per game. Both teams also ranked in the Top 10 in points surrendered and both have plenty of young talent that loves to play an up-tempo game.

The Jazz may have lost Donovan Mitchell but they still have a very productive offensive team. Lauri Markkanen put up 21 against the Jazz and proved that he can be the Jazz’s top scorer this season. If Markkanen gets good minutes during the regular season, the Jazz should have no issues scoring the ball.

Mike Conley and Collin Sexton should be a productive backcourt tandem. Meanwhile, Jordan Clarkson, Talen Horton-Tucker, Rudy Gay, Malik Beasley, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker will provide plenty of firepower off the bench.

No question on the Denver side of things. With Jamal Murray back, the Nuggets should be a much better team. Nikola Jokic is coming off back-to-back MVP seasons and may be the best big man in the business right now. Add in shooters like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Michael Porter Jr. and we have a recipe for a high-scoring affair.

Prediction: Over 221

These teams combined to score an average of 220.9 points per game in their last 10 head-to-head meetings and 221.0 points per game in their most recent three encounters. This game shouldn’t be any much different.

Prediction: Over 221.5

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