Wizards vs. Nuggets NBA expert prediction and odds for Thursday, Feb. 22

After a reset at the NBA All-Star Break, the Denver Nuggets return home within striking distance of the top seed in the Western Conference. The reigning champions are currently the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, but are just three games back of top-seeded Minnesota.

Ready for a playoff push, Denver opens the back half of the regular season by hosting the lowly Wizards as monster favorites looking to bounce back after a three-game losing streak heading into the All-Star break. 

Washington, obvious sellers at the NBA Trade Deadline earlier this month in dealing Daniel Gafford to Dallas, has just a one-game lead over Detroit for the dubious honor of having the NBA’s worst record.

After a two-game late-January winning streak, Washington lost eight consecutive games ahead of the All-Star break. Can it hang inside the big number against Denver?

Here’s the betting preview for Thursday’s cross-conference clash with a best bet. 

If you’re looking to bet on any NBA game this week, FanDuel Sportsbook has an amazing promotional offer. New users who sign up with the link below and wager $5 will receive $150 in bonus bets if their first bet wins.

Washington Wizards 

Wizards

Deni Avdija: The third-year forward and former first-round pick is averaging 13.8 points per game but has been on a different level this month, averaging 23 points in seven games. Avdija has scored 20-plus points in five of the last six games and poured in 43 points on 13-of-24 shooting with six 3-pointers in a loss to New Orleans Feb. 14. Avdija has three double-doubles in the last four games, as well, averaging 9.3 rebounds a night in February. 

Nuggets

Aaron Gordon: Gordon was a bright spot for Denver in a 102-98 loss to Sacramento in the final game before the All-Star break. The Nuggets shot less than 40% from the field and went 9-of-26 from beyond the arc, but Gordon turned in a team-high 25 points and 15 rebounds for his first double-double since Jan. 31. Gordon has scored 14-plus points in three consecutive games and is shooting 59.3% from the field in February. 

Denver should welcome back standout guard Jamal Murray, who missed the Valentine’s Day loss to Sacramento with a leg injury. Murray practiced again on Tuesday and should return to full strength to help out a Denver offense that was held under 100 points in back-to-back games. 

With Denver’s offensive struggles, can you trust them to win by such a large margin? It doesn’t take a genius to know Washington has been one of the worst teams in the NBA this season, but the Wizards did cover the spread in four of their last five games leading up to the All-Star break and were double-digit underdogs in all four.

Despite an eight-game losing streak, Washington fell by single-digits in six of those contests with an offense that is No. 1 in the NBA in pace and 16th in scoring at 114.8 points per game. 

Washington is just 27th in defensive rating and has gotten hammered down low. The Wizards are last in the NBA in points in the paint and second-chance points allowed and Denver is top-10 in the NBA in offensive rebounding. Denver has been a force at home, going 21-5 straight up and shooting 50.7% from the field (second in the league).

With Murray back in the lineup, the Nuggets’ offense gets a big bump after a pair of sub-par performances. Take the over. 

Game odds update periodically and are subject to change.