Game Time: 10:00 PM ET, Tuesday, October 26th, 2021 

Venue:  Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah

Where to Watch: TNT

DraftKings:  Spread:  Utah -7.5:  O/U: 218.5

BetMGM:  Spread:  Utah -7:  O/U: 218.5

Nuggets: 2-0

Jazz: 2-0

An absolute battle of Western Conference Northwest Division undefeated teams… or Western Conference invisible teams.  You get the feeling that NBA fans don’t care that the Mountain people and the Mormons have NBA teams, but they do.  These two teams are in unexciting cities that are hard to get to and most people wouldn't vacation there.  If you haven’t noticed they both have great NBA players and NBA teams.  And they play each other.

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RECENT FORM

The Denver Nuggets attacked the season with two easy wins.  They beat the Phoenix Suns 110-98 and the San Antonio Spurs 102-96. NBA predictions have the Denver Nuggets with a good chance to make the Western Conference Finals, but still not the favorites to win the West or the whole enchilada.  Den has the current NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and hot shot point guard Jamal Murray… If Murray had not gotten hurt last season we might be more familiar with them both.  Murray will be on the Injured list a while longer before he sees court time.  That alone will tilt the NBA odds in the Jazz’s favor. 

The Utah Jazz also got off to 2 quick wins.  They beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 107-86 and the Sacramento Kings 110-101.  Both are teams the Jazz should have beaten or be embarrassed… and they beat them. This team was also due to do damage in last year’s postseason, but had injuries that held them back.  

The Denver Nuggets are tied for 4th in offensive efficiency. They have an offensive rating of 103.9 with a 1.27 assist-to turnover ratio (24th in league).  They are a great shooting team that has to be more careful with the ball.  The big problem is waiting for PG Jamal Murray to return from injury and they may be waiting awhile.

The Utah Jazz are tied for 4th in offensive efficiency.  The Utah Jazz have a 109 offensive rating with a lousy 1.17 assist-to turnover ratio.  They also are a great shooting team that must be more careful with the ball.  The Jazz are loaded with strong guards. Jordan Clarkson comes off the bench for 16.5 ppg.. So they have five guys averaging double figures in points.

Our prediction for Tuesday, October 26th is… Jazz 121 - Nuggets 115

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Denver is 8-5 ATS against Utah over the last 3 seasons.

Utah is 0-6 when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 3 seasons.

Injury Report:

Denver: SF Vlatko Cancar (hip) Out ** SG Jamal Murray (knee) Out indefinitely

Utah: SF Rudy Gay (heel) Out indefinitely

Nuggets: PG Monte Morris, SG Will Barton, SF Michael Porter Jr, PF Aaron Gordon, C Nikola Jokic

Jazz: PG Mike Conley, SG Donovan Mitchell, SF Bojan Bogdanovic, PF Royce O’neale, C Rudy Gobert

Nuggets:

Points: Nikola Jokic 29.5

Rebounds: Nikola Jokic 14.5

Assists: Will Barton 5.5

Steals: Nikola Jokic 2.5

Blocks: F. Campazzo 0.5

Jazz: 

Points: Donovan Mitchell 21.5

Rebounds: Rudy Gobert 20.5

Assists: Donovan Mitchell 4

Steals: 2.5

Blocks Hassan Whiteside 1.5

Nuggets:  Michael Malone.  This 50 year old has coached the Denver Nuggets since 2015 and thanks his lucky stars he hadn’t stayed with his former team the Sacramento Kings! He is a solid guy whose leadership is given credit for the occasional Nuggets spread and/or moneyline.

Jazz:  Quin Snyder.  Quin has been with the Jazz since 2014 and has ushered them to higher highs year over year as the roster has churned and changed…. He has a dominating record against the Milwaukee Bucks… wait everybody does.