Nuggets vs. Rockets Betting Preview (April 16, 2021)

The Nuggets bounced back from a two-game losing streak to smack the Miami Heat on Wednesday. They are looking to keep that momentum going in Houston against the Rockets on Friday night.

Let’s take a deep dive into the different markets out there for Colorado sports bettors in our Nuggets vs. Rockets betting preview, complete with the best odds, picks, and predictions.

Nuggets vs. Rockets Betting Preview

Denver is still trying to pick up the pieces after losing Jamal Murray for the season, but they have the top-tier talent to make some noise anyway. Again, as we have said all season long, Nikola Jokic is taking his game to another level this year and he’s on his way to becoming the first MVP in Nuggets history.

The Rockets are on the other end of the spectrum. They are near the bottom of the NBA standings are in the midst of a rebuild after trading away Russell Westbrook and James Harden. Christian Wood is in the midst of a breakout season, but other than that, Rockets fans haven’t had much to cheer about.

Nuggets vs. Rockets Odds

Game lines courtesy of DraftKings Colorado:

• Spread: Nuggets -8.5 (-110) // Rockets +8.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Nuggets -375 // Rockets +295
• Total: Over 226.5 (-113) // Under 226.5 (-108)

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Bets We Like With A Nuggets Win

Aaron Gordon Over 13.5 Points (-112)

Aaron Gordon is the third option offensively for Denver right now. He was acquired to add some defensive versatility to the frontcourt for a deep run into the playoffs. However, with the recent loss of Murray, the Nuggets are going to need Gordon to help carry the scoring load. Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. are the first and second options, but they need Gordon to be that tertiary scorer.

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Bets We Like With A Rockets Win

Christian Wood Over 19.5 Points (-122)

As mentioned earlier, Christian Wood is one of the few bright spots for this Rockets fanbase. He’s averaging career-highs with 21.2 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Wood has played in 10 wins for Houston this year, scoring at least 20 points in seven of those games.

If the Rockets are going to have any chance of beating the Nuggets, they are going to need Wood to score enough to keep pace with Jokic.

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Nuggets vs. Rockets Prediction, Pick

It’s hard to bet against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets right now. Even after losing their second-best player in Murray, they have enough talent to smoke the Rockets on Friday night. Denver’s rise in the Western Conference standings won’t be slowed down in Houston.

Take the Nuggets laying the points and load up on Denver player prop bets as well. Houston’s defense is going to have a lot of trouble trying to slow down the Nuggets.

Pick: Nuggets -8.5

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