The defending champion Denver Nuggets head south to pay Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs a visit. This will only be the two teams’ second encounter since November.

Catch the game tomorrow at 8:30 AM, Manila time.

AWAY: Denver Nuggets (46-20, 19-14 AWAY)

Projected starting five:

  • Jamal Murray
  • Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
  • Michael Porter Jr.
  • Aaron Gordon
  • Nikola Jokic

The reigning champions are waxing hot as they are now 10-1 over their last 11 contests. They average 119.0 points per game and only allow 107.8 points during that span.

The Nuggets were also victorious in their meeting with the Spurs last November 27th (Manila time), 132-120. The usual suspects were in the spotlight as Nikola Jokic flirted with a triple-double in an efficient performance that featured 39 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists.

With Jamal Murray sidelined, Michael Porter Jr. played second fiddle and chipped in 25 points with four three-pointers. Back-up point guard Reggie Jackson contributed well in spot duty, courtesy of 20 points, seven boards, and six assists in 7-of-10 shooting.

Murray (21.0 PPG), the second-leading scorer, will be available tomorrow, further putting Denver in a more enticing position. If they pull up like usual, they should have no problem cruising to yet another win.

Advertisement

HOME: San Antonio Spurs (14-52, 7-23 HOME)

Projected starting five:

  • Tre Jones
  • Devin Vassell
  • Keldon Johnson
  • Jeremy Sochan
  • Victor Wembanyama

The Spurs remain as one of the worst teams in the league record-wise, but they are a young squad showing flashes of the future as of late. They have earned three wins in their last seven outings (115.4 PPG, 113.7 PAPG in that span), which is good considering their woeful W-L card.

As always, the spotlight is on Victor Wembanya, who, despite the team’s ugly record,  is seemingly accelerating his improvement, so much so that he’s still ahead in the Rookie of the Year standings, above OKC’s Chet Holmgren, whose squad is among the top in the West.

In 58 games thus far this season, Wemby is sitting at 20.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.3 steals, and a league-leading 3.4 blocks per game. Though on a losing effort, he had the same all-around play during the first meeting with the Nuggets: 22 points, 11 boards, six steals, four blocks.

Devin Vassell (19.2 PPG, 4.0 APG) remains as a co-headliner of the offense. Forward Keldon Johnson (16.0 PPG), point forward Jeremy Sochan (11.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG), big man Zach Collins (11.3 PPG), and point guard Tre Jones (9.6 PPG, 6.0 APG) round out the core as per usual.

PREDICTIONS:

Handicap: The Nuggets (-9.5) win and cover.

Over/Under: The total goes over 222.

Advertisement