The most entertaining series of the 1st round of the playoffs wraps up Saturday night when the Nuggets host the Spurs. Denver is favored in the April 27th NBA free pick (DEN -6) mostly due to the fact of playing at home. but San Antonio did take Game 1 at the Pepsi Center. The Spurs staved off elimination in Game 6, and have the experience and veteran leadership to stand up to the pressure in this one.
Spurs Playoff Tested For Game 7
To say that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has been here before would be an understatement as he’s gotten San Antonio to the playoffs in every season since 1998. The Denver crowd is going to be amped up ahead of the April 27th NBA free pick, but the Spurs were able to get the 101-96 win at the Pepsi Center in Game 1. Of course San Antonio was blown out in Game 5 in Denver, 108-90. The Spurs were also dominated in their last regular season game at the Nuggets, falling 113-85 on April 3rd.
San Antonio was able to stave off elimination in Game 6, scoring a 17 point win at home. Per usual the dynamic duo of Lamarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan were huge for the Spurs, combining for 51 points and 17 rebounds. Aldridge has largely been contained at the Pepsi Center during the series, scoring point totals of 15, 24, and 17. DeRozan has also had an 18 and 17 point night at Denver so the Spurs may need to find some secondary scoring options if they want to pull off the win.
Nuggets Set to Feed Off Home Court Energy
Counting this series, Denver has gone 4-1 vs. the Spurs at the Pepsi Center on the year. On the year the Nuggets are 36-8 on their own court which is one of the best home records in the NBA this season. Denver’s 7 home losses during the regular season were the fewest in the league. The Nuggets did fall 103-120 in a close out attempt in Game 6 at San Antonio. Is the moment going to be too big for Mike Malone’s team since it’s their first playoff appearance since 2013?
Nikola Jokic was absolutely huge in Game 6 with 43 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists but Denver still lost by 17. The Nuggets had an 18 point win in Game 5 at the Pepsi Center but Jokic had just 16 points. Jamal Murray will need to have a big night, perhaps even more than the 23 points he had the last time the teams played in Denver. Gary Harris and Paul Millsap both went for 20+ in Denver’s Game 2 win at home so they do have the balance to cover the -6 in the April 27th NBA free pick.
April 27th NBA Free Pick Betting
It’s hard not to like Denver in this one, possibly in a big win. Jokic dominated in Game 6 and should do the same back at home on Saturday night. Aldridge and DeRozan have struggled at times at the Pepsi Center during the series and will have a hostile crowd at their backs in this one.
NBA Free Pick: Denver Nuggets -6
