dailyloe.com – The Denver Nuggets host the Memphis Grizzlies in an NBA game tonight, Wednesday, April 8, as Denver pursues the Western Conference’s third seed. The Nuggets face a Memphis team that is actively struggling and prioritizing its draft lottery position. This matchup presents a clear statistical advantage for Denver’s star center.
Nikola Jokic is predicted to dominate the game’s interior play. He currently leads the entire NBA with an average of 12.9 rebounds per contest. Jokic has secured 14 or more rebounds in seven of his last eight games.
His matchup against the Grizzlies is exceptionally favorable. Memphis ranks 26th in the league with a 48.1% rebounding rate. That figure has plummeted to just 43.4% since the beginning of March.
The Grizzlies’ fast pace and poor rebounding have yielded disastrous results. They are allowing a league-worst 50.9 rebounds per game over their last 15 contests. Their defensive effort has also severely declined recently.
Memphis is surrendering 129.8 points per game over its last 10 outings. This defensive lapse should create ample scoring opportunities for the Denver Nuggets. Consequently, Jokic is also expected to excel in playmaking.
Jokic has recorded at least 12 assists in seven of his last eight games. One primary beneficiary of his passing is forward Aaron Gordon. Gordon has exceeded 15.5 points in three of his last five games.
Gordon is coming off a 23-point performance against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Grizzlies’ interior weakness is compounded by recent roster moves. They traded Jaren Jackson Jr. and have shut down Zach Edey and Santi Aldama.
This leaves Memphis severely undermanned in the frontcourt. The team’s strategy appears focused on securing a better draft pick. Their on-court competitiveness has noticeably waned as a result.
The game’s key prediction centers on Nikola Jokic’s rebounding. The best bet is for Jokic to record over 12.5 rebounds. This is supported by his season-long dominance and Memphis’s glaring weakness.
A same-game parlay suggestion includes Jokic exceeding 10.5 assists. It also includes Aaron Gordon scoring over 15.5 points. These picks are based on recent individual and team trends.
Denver has clear motivations to win for playoff seeding. Memphis has contrasting motivations centered on future development. This dynamic sets the stage for a potentially lopsided contest in Denver’s favor.[]
Source: Covers.com
