Denver Nuggets and the Golden State Warriors will meet in the third game of the NBA 2021-22 playoffs series. The hosts need to bounce back to remain competitive in this tie. The away side has been on fire lately, and they want to continue in the same fashion.
Denver hasn’t played well over the past few weeks, and they have a good chance to make this tie alive by improving their game on the home court. The home side looks forward to grabbing its first win in front of its fans. On the other hand, Golden State has entered a winning streak that they extended in the playoffs. Another victory could bring them just one step away from the quarter-finals.
Denver Nuggets – Can they get back into the tie?
The Nuggets haven’t enjoyed their form lately, as they booked only two wins in the previous seven matches. They are still searching for the first win in the post-season, and another failure to celebrate could bring them into a very tough position. Denver wasn’t competitive enough in their latest 126-106 defeat despite having 12 rebounds more than their rivals. The Nuggets had a 42.5 field goal percentage, making twice more turnovers compared to the Warriors.
Nikola Jokic continues to be the most productive player for Denver in the playoffs as well, but he’s slightly below his regular-season average with 25.5 points. The Serbian international also produces 10.5 rebounds, five assists, a pair of steals, and 1.5 blocks per game in the post-season, topping all the team’s charts. Will Barton averages 18 pts per contest, but other players should contribute more to the Nuggets’ offense since Monte Morris and Bones Hyland have 11 points per game. Regarding the selection issues, only Michael Porter Jr. will miss out on this match for the Nuggets.
Expected Line-Up: Monte Morris, Will Barton, Aaron Gordon, Jeff Green, Nikola Jokic
with best odds
Golden State Warriors – Will they continue their run?
The Warriors have been running hot recently, booking seven straight wins and carrying over their regular-season form to the playoffs. After two comfortable wins, they are in a dominant position in this tie, but they head to Denver for another couple of matches. Despite being inferior in the paint in their latest game, Golden State had an excellent 54.8 field goal percentage. They also limited the number of turnovers to nine, and that was a recipe for another win and a 2-0 lead in the series.
Jordan Poole has been the most dominant player for the Warriors in the first two clashes, having 29.5 points, 5.5 assists, and a steal per game on average. Stephen Curry has also made a successful return after an injury, producing 25 points and four assists, while Andrew Wiggins tops the rebounds charts with 8.5, followed by 14.5 pts. Klay Thompson is in the 20s as well, while Nemanja Bjelica and Draymond Green average nine points per match. On the other hand, James Wiseman is unavailable for this game, while Andre Iguodala is listed as questionable.
Expected Line-Up: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney
Expert Pick #1 – Denver Nuggets +2 @-110
Denver needs to make a strong effort to beat the smoking-hot Warriors and log their first win in the series. Although the momentum is not on their side, I think they could do much better in front of their fans, and the Nuggets might break their rival’s winning run. That’s why I’ll back the home side ATS as the first pick.
Expert Pick #2 – Over 223 @-110
I expect a better offensive display from the Nuggets, while Golden State managed to keep their shooting percentages high over the first two matches. The visitors should remain productive in the offense, and this encounter should go over a 223 margin. I’ll take this one as my second bet.
Expert Pick #3 – Nikola Jokic Over 29.5 @-120
Joker was pretty nervous in the previous match, which resulted in his dismissal five minutes from time. Nevertheless, he managed to score 26 pts and could have likely entered the 30s under normal circumstances. I expect him to bounce back and produce at least 30 points in this one. It will be my third pick despite slightly lower odds.
