NBA Playoffs Free Picks: Warriors vs. Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets were the most dominant home team in the NBA betting this season, winning 38 of a possible 41 games at the Pepsi Center to clinch the third seed in the Western Conference. However, a game two loss to the Golden State Warriors took away their home court advantage in the opening round, and after dropping games three and four on the road, the Nuggets return home for a must-win situation against Golden State on Tuesday night. The Warriors have managed to string together three-straight wins despite losing David Lee in game one, and can score the ultimate upset by clinching the series in game five at Denver with less than a week to go until the Kentucky Derby betting race runs.

Golden State Warriors @ Denver Nuggets
Tuesday April 30, 2013 – 8:00 PM ET
Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
NBA Sportsbook Line: Denver – 2.5

It’s funny looking back now to before the series got underway, when the Nuggets were substantial favorites thanks in big part to their play at home. All it took was a single road win for the Warriors to spin all of that upside down, and now they have the chance to clinch the series win with a second road win.

NBA Betting Preview: Golden State Warriors

The Warriors’ offense has been unstoppable in this series, scoring at least 110 points in three-straight sports betting wins. Stephen Curry has carried the bulk of the load, including a game-high 31 points to go with seven assists and four steals in game four. Curry said his left ankle was really bothering him at half time in that contest, but managed to score 19 points in the final 4:22 of the third quarter to put the game out of reach. The loss of Lee has been made up for by the surprising play of Andrew Bogut, who has been excellent in the series. Bogut has abused Denver’s big men down low, while Curry has dominated them on the perimeter with his speed and clutch shooting.

NBA Betting Preview: Denver Nuggets

While the Golden State offense has been dominant, its defense hasn’t been all that bad either, forcing the Nuggets in to 14 turnovers in the first half of game four alone. The Warriors scored a season-high 33 points off of 23 Denver turnovers in that win, which means that adjusting on offense will be just as important for the Nuggets as stepping up at the defensive end of the floor. Ty Lawson scored a team-high 26 points for Denver in game four, but also had five turnovers – second only to the seven committed by Andre Iguodola. The Nuggets wee a team that thrived on forcing turnovers and scoring points in transition during the regular season, and need to find a way to get back to those strengths to live up to their billing as the series favorite according to the sites listed on the sportsbook reviews.

NBA Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

The stage is set for the Warriors to finish this series off, but it’s important to remember that Denver didn’t get to where they are by struggling at home. The Nuggets owned the best home record in the NBA during the regular season, and should be able to bounce back in order to keep this series alive and at the very least force a game six. For all of the latest NBA playoff news and game odds, be sure to check out the best sports betting sites.

My Pick: Denver Nuggets – 2.5