New York Knicks vs. Denver Nuggets Betting Prediction 12/15/19

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The league’s top scoring defense will be an 11-point favorite at home in Pepsi Center, when the Denver Nuggets (16-8) clash with the New York Knicks (6-20). The game’s Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 205.5 points and it can be seen on NBATV at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 15, 2019.

New York Knicks vs. Denver Nuggets Betting Odds

In the Knicks’ last outing, they just got past the Sacramento Kings, 103-101, as 8.5-point underdogs. The Nuggets, meanwhile, beat the Oklahoma City Thunder,110-102, resulting in a push. The New York game went 6.5 points under the projected point total of 210.5, while the Denver game finished 4.5 points under the projected point total of 216.5.

The Knicks had an absurdly low turnover percentage of 7.4 (better than their season average of 12.9) and had an offensive rebounding percentage of 29.8 (above their season average of 25.0). Denver, meanwhile, played a nearly flawless game. They had an offensive rebounding percentage of 25.0 (above their season average of 23.4) and an effective field goal percentage of 0.547 (above their season average of 0.508). Oklahoma City was 17.1 and 0.506, respectively, for those same stats. Denver rallied around Nikola Jokic, who registered his third triple-double this season. He dominated, accumulating 28 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists. Julius Randle, meanwhile had a good outing for New York, contributing 26 points and nine rebounds.

In their first matchup this season, Mason Plumlee led the Nuggets to a 129-92 victory. He registered a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. The two teams combined to put up 221 points, which was well over the projected point total of 204, and Denver covered as an 8.5-point favorite. The Nuggets’ 24.3 offensive rebounding percentage was their largest strength over the Knicks, who had a rate of 11.4.

Vegas has a tendency to place the total high when the Knicks are involved, as 17 of their 26 contests have finished under the total. New York heads into the game with records of 6-20 straight up (SU) and 12-13-1 against the spread (ATS).

Games involving the Nuggets also have typically finished under the total (78.3 percent). Denver has a solid 16-8 SU record, but they are just 9-11-3 ATS.

The Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson has been playing at a high level over his last five games, averaging 12 points,8.4 rebounds,2.2 blocks per game. Meanwhile, Jokic has averaged 19 points,9.8 rebounds,7.0 assists during that same time frame for the Nuggets.

Half-court execution will be at a premium when two of the NBA’s slowest-paced teams clash. Denver ranks 24th in possessions per game (101.0) and New York is 26th (100.5). Moreover, the Knicks rank 30th in offensive efficiency (100.6), while the Nuggets rank fourth in defensive efficiency (101.5).

New York Knicks vs. Denver Nuggets Pick

Free NBA Pick: SU Winner – Nuggets, ATS Winner – Nuggets, O/U – Under

Betting Notes:

  • The Nuggets rank 24th in fast break points per game (11.5) while the Knicks rank 27th (10.5).
  • Denver ranks sixth in assists per game (26.3) while New York ranks 29th (20.2).
  • The Nuggets rank third in points off turnovers allowed per game (14.2) while the Knicks rank 18th (17.7).
  • New York ranks fourth in second chance points per game (15.0) while Denver ranks 19th (12.6).
  • New York ranks second in steals allowed per game (6.7) while Denver ranks eighth (7.1).
  • The Nuggets rank 10th in three pointers allowed per game (32.6) while the Knicks rank 26th (35.2).
  • The Nuggets rank 11th in rebounds per game (45.9) while the Knicks rank 18th in rebounds allowed per game (46.0).
  • Denver ranks 12th in points in the paint per game (47.2) while New York ranks 28th (41.7).
  • When holding opponents below 100 points, Denver is 10-1 and New York is 1-1.
  • The Knicks are 6-11 when they reach 100 points, while the Nuggets are 14-4.
  • Denver is 5-6-1 ATS at home, while New York is 7-6 ATS on the road.
  • The total has gone under in 10 of the Nuggets’ 12 home games, while 7 of the Knicks’ 13 road games have gone under.

Bettings Trends:

  • The Nuggets are 2-2-1 ATS over their last five games, while the Knicks are 3-2.
  • In their last five games, Denver has 4 unders and 1 over, while New York has 3 unders and 2 overs.
  • During their last five games, the Nuggets have scored an average of 102.6 points per game (3.7 below their season average) and allowed an average of 102.2 points per game (0.6 above their season average).
  • The Knicks’ average margin of defeat in their last five games has been 12.4, up from 10.1 for the season.