8* Take Denver (#711)

Since the start of the playoffs -- discounting Game 1’s when Denver was not the rested team -- the Nuggets have gone 10-1-2 ATS at +2 or higher; a consistently profitable underdog.  Plain and simple – Denver has NOT been power rated correctly here in the postseason; as that 10-1 ATS mark would clearly indicate.

The Nuggets are not a team that falls apart when facing adversity, as we’ve seen repeatedly in these playoffs already.  Head coach Mike Malone, about facing a 3-1 deficit once again: “We’ve been here twice and we’ve answered the call.  To be honest, in the second round against the Clippers, they were the odds on favorite to win the whole thing ahead of the Lakers.”  They’re taking Friday off from the practice floor – exactly what they did facing their first two 3-1 series deficits. 

And the Nuggets, like the Lakers did prior to Game 4, just sent a bunch of film to the NBA, requesting a more equal distribution of foul calls in Game 5.  Jamal Murray: “I did get fouled on a few.  We can see the replay clearly.”  Nikole Jokic, who battled foul trouble all game on Thursday Night: “We had a lot of cheap fouls.”  I’m not expecting every close call to go against Denver here.  Expect a down-to-the-wire battle & take the points!  Take the Nuggets.