Nuggets vs. Warriors Game 2 Prediction
The Warriors easily dispatched the Nuggets in Game 1 of the teams’ Western Conference First-Round meeting on Saturday but will Golden State respond for bettors in the same way in Game 2 on Monday night? Tip-off is set for 10:00 p.m. ET.
Game Snapshot
545 Denver Nuggets (+7) at 546 Golden State Warriors (-7); o/u 224.5
10:00 p.m. ET, Monday, April 18, 2022
Venue: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
TV: TNT
Denver Nuggets DFS Notes
Marc J. Spears reported on Sunday that Michael Porter Jr. is “not ruling out a return in the first round playoff series against the Warriors”. MPJ hasn’t played since early November, but there’s a chance that he plays against Golden State. The Nuggets would welcome his offense back, which would provide a huge boost for them against the Warriors. If Denver doesn’t win one of the next two games, it wouldn’t make sense for him to play when they’re down 3-0, which doesn’t leave much time for MPJ to make a return.
Golden State Warriors DFS Notes
Stephen Curry finished Saturday’s Game 1 win over the Nuggets with 16 points (5-of-13 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs), three rebounds, four assists, one steal, and three 3-pointers in 22 minutes. Playing in a game for the first time since March 16, Curry was (understandably) on a minutes restriction Saturday night. He didn’t check in until six minutes into the first quarter and was rusty, missing his first six field-goal attempts. He looked sharper during the second half, and it’s fair to expect Curry to see an increase in playing time for Monday’s Game 2. As for who his return will impact the most, the answer to that question may actually be Kevon Looney. Prior to Curry’s injury, the Warriors were experimenting with a lineup that featured Draymond Green at center, with Looney on the bench. They went to that look for five minutes on Saturday (that quintet was a plus-14), and Looney (six points, seven rebounds) only played 13 minutes. Essentially, DFS players should not consider slotting Looney into their lineups moving forward.
Nuggets vs. Warriors Game 2 NBA Playoffs Betting Prediction
The Nuggets are now just 3-10 against the spread in their last 13 games versus the Warriors and are 2-6-1 against the number in their last nine road games versus Golden State following their failed cover in Game 1. The Nuggets are also 0-4 against the spread in their last four playoff games as an underdog, are 2-5 against the number in their last seven games overall and are facing a Warriors team that has covered in six of their last seven games overall, including four straight at home.
NBA PLAYOFFS BETTING PREDICTION: GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS -7