The Denver Nuggets have three games in the upcoming week that they have a good chance of winning, depending on injuries and the impact of COVID.
They are scheduled to compete against the Thunder in Oklahoma City on December 22, followed by a journey to Denver for a match against the Charlotte Hornets on the consecutive day. The most challenging victory is anticipated against the Hornets on the following day.
Consequently, the Nuggets opt for a two-day break before their encounter with the Los Angeles Clippers from the City of Angels.
chances for the Nuggets at Colorado casinos
Keeping up with Jokic
Nikola Jokic lacks support from the Thunder as there is no one capable of matching up with him. Aside from being undersized, none of their key players stand a chance in keeping up with Jokic’s abilities.
Derrick Favors appears to be the strongest contender among the available choices, while Mike Muscala, Aleksej Pokusevski, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl have very slim chances of posing any competition against Jokic.
Jokic is likely to compel the Thunder to double-team him more often than necessary, thereby boosting the chances of betting on the Nuggets to cover the spread, win the game, or secure parlays. Consequently, opponents should attempt to catch him off guard when he scores, grabs rebounds, or dishes out assists.
When Denver is at their best and Jokic takes on the role of director for the Nuggets, there is no justification for the reigning MVP to perform in that exact manner.
Predicting the conflict between Denver and the Hornets proves to be a much more challenging task.
Can they effectively limit LaMelo Ball’s impact on the perimeter, or will he continue to outplay Denver’s defense like he has against numerous other teams? Denver is likely to rely on Barton to guard Ball and use different defensive tactics to keep him on his toes.
Focus on Gordon
The most exciting matchup of the game will undoubtedly be between Aaron Gordon and Miles Bridges.
Do you think Gordon Bridges transitions at a slower pace? Can Bridges effectively handle Gordon’s high-risk scoring ability as he gets closer to the rim?
Bettors may find it difficult to determine the odds in this game due to the exceptional athleticism and versatility of both teams. Nevertheless, pitting them against each other could result in an exhilarating hockey match.
Following a two-day matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Denver Nuggets might opt for a brief respite before heading back home for Christmas. To secure a victory, the Nuggets will heavily rely on a strong performance from Jokic. Equally crucial, Gordon displayed outstanding defense against Paul George.
The Clippers will be in trouble if they cannot rely on George and for scoring against the Nuggets. It will be a major setback for them. Gordon will have to step up and defend against screens all night long, while the rest of the team will have to work together to find alternative scoring options.
The Nuggets are scheduled to face the 25-six Golden State Warriors twice in a span of two days, on December 28 and 30, before concluding the year 2021. It is anticipated that the Nuggets will emerge victorious in at least two out of the subsequent three games.
Despite the potential surprise of winning either of those games, Denver has secured a buffer for their possible two-game losing streak in 2022. They managed to win two out of three matches against the Thunder, Hornets, and Clippers prior to facing Golden State.
The Nuggets and COVID
This season’s league and health and safety protocols have been signed up by 113 NBA players as of Monday.
According to ESPN’s Baxter Holmes, the month of December alone saw 97 cases among over 100 players who either tested positive for COVID-19, had an inconclusive test, or were identified as at-risk through contact tracing.
The Denver Nuggets continue to face challenges related to COVID-19. During the previous quarter:
- For the next day, Forward Bol Bol is isolating.
- Austin Rivers missed the first eight games of December because of screening results.
- Because of health regulations, Bones Hyland was unable to attend the games. After sustaining a right ankle sprain in December, he missed one activity, and consequently, the first three activities as well.
NBA efforts to control the rise of COVID
With each NBA player adopting new techniques, the world of big league baseball is thrown into chaos.
As of December 26, the NBA has issued a memo stating an augmentation in the testing of vaccinated players and Tier 1 personnel. Additionally, the NBA will mandate players and staff to wear masks for almost all non-game-related activities.
In spite of these efforts, it is highly likely that COVID event statistics will continue to increase during the holiday season.
Jeff Zillgitt of USAToday reports that
The league is currently not considering a potential pause, but it would be unwise to assume that the NBA hasn’t talked about it as a backup plan in case the situation worsens. However, it is not currently being discussed as an option.
To stay updated on the Denver Nuggets, visit playin-colorado.com for the latest information as the NBA remains unpredictable on a daily basis.
