Nuggets vs. Warriors Prediction and Odds for Game 1 (Must Back Warriors in Steph Curry's Return)
By Peter Dewey
The Golden State Warriors received some extremely positive news on Steph Curry, as he is expected to reportedly return for Game 1 against the Denver Nuggets Saturday night.
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry (foot) is on track to make his return in Game 1 vs. Nuggets on Saturday as long as he clears team’s scrimmage today without issues, sources tell me and @anthonyVslater.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 14, 2022
Curry missed the final 12 games of the regular season with a foot injury, but will join Klay Thompson and Draymond Green back in the lineup, making the Warriors as dangerous as they’ve been all season.
Denver, led by MVP candidate Nikola Jokic, is the best team in the NBA in terms of effective field goal and true shooting percentage, but the Nuggets have wilted all season when Jokic leaves the floor (minus-8.0 points per 100 possessions).
Does Denver have a chance to upset in Game 1? Let’s take a look at the odds for this matchup via WynnBET:
Nuggets vs. Warriors Odds, Spread and Total
Spread:
- Nuggets +6.5 (-108)
- Warriors -6.5 (-108
Moneyline:
- Nuggets: +200
- Warriors: -240
Total:
- 224 (Over -108/Under -108)
Nuggets vs. Warriors Prediction and Pick
Curry’s return has really changed the complexion of this game, as the Warriors opened as 4.5-point favorites at WynnBET when his status was truly up in the air.
Golden State has a top three defensive rating in the NBA this season, and it is one of the best home teams in the NBA, going 31-10 straight up and winning by an average of 9.9 points per game.
We really haven’t seen much of the Curry-Thompson-Green trio in action, but it’s hard to doubt them given all the success they’ve had together in the past.
I think Jordan Poole, who is having a career year, is the key for the Warriors as they are 32-16 this season when Poole scores 15 or more points.
Jokic is going to be a problem for Golden State (he averages 28.0 points, 15.8 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game while shooting 51.9 percent from the field against them this season), but I don’t see Denver’s supporting cast bringing enough offense to beat Golden State at home with Curry.
Lean: Warriors -6.5 (-108)
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record in the NBA this season here.