The San Antonio Spurs will host the Denver Nuggets in a clash between two Western Conference contenders. San Antonio enters the game on a five-game winning streak. They’ve won 16 of 17 games since Feb. 1, improving to 48-17. Denver sits at 40-26 and has gone 5-6 since the All-Star break, slipping to fifth place in the conference.
Jokic and Murray Key for Denver
A key storyline for the Nuggets continues to be the play of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Murray has averaged 25.5 PPG and 7.1 APG. Jokic has been dominant over the last 10 games with 29.1 PPG, 12.9 RPG and 9.7 APG. Denver remains one of the league’s most efficient offensive teams, though defensive inconsistencies have led to uneven results in recent weeks.
Wembanyama Fuels Spurs’ Strong Run
The Spurs continue to be fueled by Victor Wembanyama. The All-Star big man has averaged 24.2 PPG, 11.1 RPG and 3.0 BPG while anchoring a defense that ranks third in defensive rating. San Antonio has also received strong contributions from De’Aaron Fox, who’s averaged 17.3 PPG and 6.3 APG while shooting 52.9% over the last 10 games.
Potential High-Scoring Affair
The betting total suggests Thursday’s game could turn into another high-scoring affair after the Spurs defeated the Nuggets 139-136 in their previous meeting this season. The matchup could offer an early preview of a potential Western Conference playoff battle, with Denver’s elite offense facing a San Antonio team playing its best basketball of the year.
Other NBA Action
Cameron Payne is a strong streaming option following the news that Tyrese Maxey will miss at least three weeks with a tendon injury in his right pinkie. Payne has provided a major spark for the 76ers, scoring at least 30 fantasy points in three straight games, including 91 against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, Payne should see increased opportunities and production during Maxey’s absence. He’s also someone to have on your radar in DFS with a salary of $6,000.
De’Aaron Fox OVER 24.5 points and assists (-113): The Spurs have been on an impressive run lately, and Fox has been a key contributor. He’s cleared this line in four of his last five games and has averaged 15.4 field-goal attempts and 12.5 potential assists per game during that span. Fox has been superb.
The matchup could offer an early preview of a potential Western Conference playoff battle.