PREMIUM
3-Game Friday SWEEPER PASS
(NBA) Atlanta vs. Denver,
Total: 221.50 | -110.00 Over
Result: Win
Total: 221.50 | -110.00 Over
Result: Win
The set-up: The 14-15 Atlanta Hawks are in Denver Friday night to take on the 12-17 Nuggets. Dwight Howard, the All-Star center who signed with the Hawks in the offseason, didn't travel with the team to Denver and will miss his third straight game because of a back injury. Head coach Mike Budenholzer and Howard told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday the back is improving but the team is being cautious with him. The Hawks split a pair of games without Howard, including a 92-84 home defeat against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. The Nuggets are coming off a 119-102 loss to the Clippers Tuesday at Staples Center but had won three straight prior to that, all by double digits
Atlanta: The Hawks lost center Al Horford to Boston via free agency and traded starting PG Jeff Teague to the Pacers, while promoting Dennis Schroder to be the team's starting PG. Howard ranks in the top five in the NBA in rebounding (13.0 RPG) and field-goal percentage (63.2 percent), and Dennis Schroder scored a team-high 21 points against Minnesota and is averaging 20.6 points on 50 percent shooting from the floor in his past 14 games (he's averaging 17.2 PPG & 6.3 APG on the season). The Hawks are among the league leaders in assists (24 per game) and steals (8.6) but after opening 9-2, have gone 5-13 since (also 5-13 ATS).
Denver: The Nuggets fell apart against the Clippers on Tuesday but as noted, were coming off three straight wins (and covers), all at the Pepsi Center. That resurgence coincided with the team becoming fully healthy. The Nuggets haven't made the playoffs since 2013, when they won an NBA franchise-best 57 games, but they haven't come close to the postseason since. That said, at 12-17, they are tied with the Kings, just percentage points behind the 13-18 Blazers for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot. Denver averages 107.5 PPG (7th) but is allowing 109.7 (26th), as opponents are shooting 46.8 percent from the floor (27th).
The pick: Denver scores pretty well and does not defend much (over?) but the Hawks are not only going to be without Howard but also Tim Hardaway Jr. (11.3 PPG) missed most of Wednesday's game with a right groin injury (questionable for this game). Atlanta failed to score 100 points in two of their past three games and in 15 road games this season, is averaging just 99.1 PPG. This over/under number is high enough to make the Under an 8* play in this one.
Atlanta: The Hawks lost center Al Horford to Boston via free agency and traded starting PG Jeff Teague to the Pacers, while promoting Dennis Schroder to be the team's starting PG. Howard ranks in the top five in the NBA in rebounding (13.0 RPG) and field-goal percentage (63.2 percent), and Dennis Schroder scored a team-high 21 points against Minnesota and is averaging 20.6 points on 50 percent shooting from the floor in his past 14 games (he's averaging 17.2 PPG & 6.3 APG on the season). The Hawks are among the league leaders in assists (24 per game) and steals (8.6) but after opening 9-2, have gone 5-13 since (also 5-13 ATS).
Denver: The Nuggets fell apart against the Clippers on Tuesday but as noted, were coming off three straight wins (and covers), all at the Pepsi Center. That resurgence coincided with the team becoming fully healthy. The Nuggets haven't made the playoffs since 2013, when they won an NBA franchise-best 57 games, but they haven't come close to the postseason since. That said, at 12-17, they are tied with the Kings, just percentage points behind the 13-18 Blazers for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot. Denver averages 107.5 PPG (7th) but is allowing 109.7 (26th), as opponents are shooting 46.8 percent from the floor (27th).
The pick: Denver scores pretty well and does not defend much (over?) but the Hawks are not only going to be without Howard but also Tim Hardaway Jr. (11.3 PPG) missed most of Wednesday's game with a right groin injury (questionable for this game). Atlanta failed to score 100 points in two of their past three games and in 15 road games this season, is averaging just 99.1 PPG. This over/under number is high enough to make the Under an 8* play in this one.
