The NBA season rolls on Sunday with a smaller set of just four games. Action Network NBA analysts Austin Wang and Roberto Arguello have found value on the board and have you covered with best bets on Jazz-Nuggets and Warriors-Timberwolves. Check out their analysis and picks below.
NBA Odds & Picks
Utah Jazz vs. Denver Nuggets
Austin Wang: Fatigue should be a big part in your approach to handicapping the NBA.
The Denver Nuggets are in an unfavorable scheduling spot. This will be their second night of a back-to-back and third game in four nights. They also gave the Los Angeles Lakers a nice 37-point beatdown last night, so I'm expecting them to have a let-down spot here. Austin Rivers and JaMychal Green will be out, so the Nuggets' already-thin rotation takes another hit.
The Utah Jazz, on the other hand, played their last game on Wednesday. They've had three full days to rest up and reflect on how awful they've been. They are on a four-game losing streak, which includes an outright loss to the Pistons as double-digit favorites!
This is uncharacteristic of them, and it really brings to question if they should really be considered as title contenders. I expect a big game from Donovan Mitchell, who should be taking some accountability for the Jazz's recent struggles.
One of the reasons they've been struggling has been Rudy Gobert's absence. He has been cleared from health and safety protocols and will be returning on Sunday. He returns in an important role matching up against the reigning MVP Nikola Jokic. Rudy Gay will also be returning to the lineup, who has been playing well off the bench.
The Jazz have dominated this divisional matchup as of late, winning and covering in their previous three matchups. I expect the same in this game, and my pick is on the Jazz -4.5 (BetMGM) and would play it up to -5.
The Nuggets are a much better first half team and usually struggle in the second half, so an angle to attack this is to play the Jazz in the second half or find a live line if the Nuggets get off to a quick start.
Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Roberto Arguello: The Golden State Warriors have been one of the elite teams in the NBA this season thanks to Most Valuable Player frontrunner Stephen Curry and Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner Draymond Green. However, neither of these two will be available when the Warriors face the Timberwolves on the road on Sunday night.
Curry and Green are the only Warriors averaging more than four assists per game, and the Golden State offense will struggle against a Minnesota defense that ranks ninth in Defensive Rating (excluding garbage time, per Cleaning The Glass) without their two best playmakers. The Warriors will also miss Curry’s ability to space the floor and Green’s versatile defense.
The Warriors offense has fallen down to 12th in Offensive Rating this season as they rank 27th in Offensive Rating over the last two weeks. Fade their slumping offense as the shorthanded Warriors face a relatively full strength Timberwolves team that should put together a strong defensive performance while Karl-Anthony Towns has a big night. Take the Timberwolves at -4.5 on FanDuel with value down to -6.
