Nuggets Host Warriors

Nuggets and Warriors are Top in West Right Now

The Golden State Warriors battle the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on Tuesday night. Both teams are starting to break away from the pack in the crowded Western Conference. Both are playing well heading into a showdown on Tuesday. The Warriors will try to take back the lead in the conference and earn a fifth straight victory when they visit the Nuggets.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (Golden State), Altitude (Denver) LINE: Warriors -1; O/U: 228

Golden State sits a half-game behind Denver and began a stretch with seven of eight on the road on Sunday. They outlasted the Dallas Mavericks 119-114 behind 48 points from superstar point guard Stephen Curry. The Nuggets suffered a surprising 102-93 loss at Phoenix on Saturday but bounced right back the next night to knock off the Portland Trail Blazers 116-113. They improved to 18-3 at home, including wins in 12 straight.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

The Warriors are 29-14 overall this season. Golden State is averaging 130 points over its last six games. The team is beginning to gel after a spate of injuries took Curry and Draymond Green out of the lineup for extended periods. The Warriors are close to getting another All-Star they can insert into the lineup. Center DeMarcus Cousins is expected to make his team and season debut on Friday. The team is preparing by adjusting the rotation to give Curry and Durant more time together on the floor. The two combined for 76 points on 27-of-53 shooting, 13-of-23 from 3-point range, in Sunday's win and average a combined 57.6 points. SG Klay Thompson went 2-of-11 from 3-point range on Sunday after knocking down 27-of-50 over the previous six contests.

The Nuggets are 29-13 on the season. Denver doesn't have the plethora of All-Stars that Golden State enjoys, but it does have center Nikola Jokic. He might be right up with Curry and Durant as dark horse MVP candidates. Jokic collected 40 points on 15-of-23 shooting (4-of-7 from 3-point range), 10 rebounds and eight assists in Sunday's victory. He narrowly missed a third triple-double in four games. Denver earned a 100-98 home win over Golden State on Oct. 21 as Jokic collected 23 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

PREDICTION: Nuggets 128, Warriors 122

NBA Betting Odds & Trends

Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are 5-11 ATS in its last 16 games
Golden State is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Golden State's last 6 games
The Warriors are 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Golden State is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Golden State's last 6 games on the road
The Warriors are 1-5-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Denver
Golden State is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Denver
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Golden State's last 14 games when playing Denver
The Warriors are 2-5-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Denver
The Warriors are 7-16 SU in its last 23 games when playing on the road against Denver
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Golden State's last 9 games when playing on the road against Denver

Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets are 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games
Denver is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Denver's last 9 games
The Nuggets are 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games at home
Denver is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Denver's last 6 games at home
The Nuggets are 5-1-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Golden State
Denver is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Denver's last 14 games when playing Golden State
The Nuggets are 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Golden State
The Nuggets are 16-7 SU in its last 23 games when playing at home against Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Denver's last 9 games when playing at home against Golden State

Next up:
Golden State home to New Orleans Wednesday, January 16
Denver home to Chicago Thursday, January 17

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