Denver Nuggets vs Utah Jazz

Michael Porter Jr. continues to be a key offensive weapon, dropping 23 points on just nine shots in his last game, including six three-pointers. With Denver facing a weak Jazz defense tonight, he’s my top pick to deliver another strong performance.

This season, Porter Jr. is averaging 18.2 points per game and has already scored 20+ in four games this month. His opportunities could increase even more if Jamal Murray (questionable) sits out.

Nikola Jokic’s presence makes a huge difference—Porter Jr. struggled from beyond the arc (9-for-35) while the reigning MVP was sidelined but quickly found his rhythm again once Jokic returned to facilitate the offense.

Another positive sign? Porter Jr. has been more aggressive getting to the free-throw line lately (28 attempts in his last nine games), though he still has room to grow in that aspect of his game.

Given Utah’s defensive struggles and their clear tanking approach, this matchup sets up well for Porter Jr. to excel. With Denver likely easing the workload for Jokic and Aaron Gordon, Porter should see plenty of scoring chances. The 17.5-point line feels very achievable.

On another note, Christian Braun has been heating up—shooting 48% from three this month while averaging 15.9 PPG. He’s surpassed the 14.5-point mark in three of his last four games, building on his 17.7 PPG average in February.

While both teams have leaned toward high-scoring games this season, the total seems slightly inflated tonight. Utah has been held under 104 points in half of their last 10 games and may again be without Lauri Markkanen. Additionally, if Denver builds a comfortable lead, they’re unlikely to push the pace unnecessarily.