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Denver Nuggets @ Detroit Pistons

Matchup model · Wednesday, November 18, 2026

Denver Nuggets
Away · off 76.6 / def 58.2
38% win
@
116119
proj · O/U 235 · 99.4 pace
Detroit Pistons
Home · off 64 / def 71.6
62% win

Game markets

Moneyline
Denver Nuggets+163
Detroit Pistons-163
62% / 38% win
Spread
Detroit Pistons -2.5
home covers 51%
+3.570%+0.561%-2.551%-5.541%-8.531%
Total
O/U 235
99.4 pace
227o67%231o59%235o50%239o41%243o33%
Denver NuggetsSwitch-heavyoff 76.6 · def 58.2 · pace 99.5
Nikola JokićCenter
Medium · 55
PrimaryJalen Duren· 76 Rim protectionSolid defender
Secondary: Ausar Thompson · help from Javonte Green
MarketSeasonProjLineOverLean
Points28.829.5
2954%Lean over
Rebounds13.213.6
1358%Over
Assists11.211.6
1158%Over
Pts + Reb + Ast53.254.7
5359%Over
Pts + Reb4243.1
4257%Lean over
Pts + Ast4041.1
4056%Lean over
Points — chance to reach
25+82%30+46%35+14%
Pts + Reb + Ast — chance to reach
45+90%50+73%55+48%60+24%65+9%

Why — matchup factors

Opponent defense71.6/100
Soft unit — points come easier.
Primary defenderJalen Duren · 76
Solid defender on the ball.
Pace99.4 poss
Up-tempo game — more possessions to fill the box score.
Scheme fitAggressive hedge & help
Aggressive help muddies clean reads — roughly neutral.
VenueAway
On the road — small drag.
RestRested
Rested — no back-to-back.

Nikola Jokić draws Detroit Pistons's aggressive hedge & help scheme — hedges hard on ball screens and rotates aggressive help from the weak side.

Primary assignment projects to Jalen Duren (solid defender, 76 Rim protection), Ausar Thompson secondary, with Javonte Green as the low-man/help.

Model lines Jokić at 29.5 pts (range 25–34) vs a 29 line — a lean to clear it (54%).

Biggest edge: opponent defense — soft unit — points come easier.

Model favors Detroit Pistons (62%), projected 116–119, ~235 total at 99.4 pace.

Jamal MurrayGuard
Low · 52
PrimaryAusar Thompson· 90 Perimeter DElite stopper
Secondary: Javonte Green · help from Jalen Duren
MarketSeasonProjLineOverLean
Points27.227.6
2755%Lean over
Rebounds4.64.7
4.558%Over
Assists7.57.7
7.555%Lean over
Pts + Reb + Ast39.340.1
39.554%Lean over
Pts + Reb31.832.3
3253%Lean over
Pts + Ast34.735.3
34.556%Lean over
Points — chance to reach
25+71%30+30%35+6%
Pts + Reb + Ast — chance to reach
35+82%40+51%45+19%50+4%

Why — matchup factors

Opponent defense71.6/100
Soft unit — points come easier.
Primary defenderAusar Thompson · 90
Elite stopper on the ball.
Pace99.4 poss
Up-tempo game — more possessions to fill the box score.
Scheme fitAggressive hedge & help
Aggressive help muddies clean reads — roughly neutral.
VenueAway
On the road — small drag.
RestRested
Rested — no back-to-back.

Jamal Murray draws Detroit Pistons's aggressive hedge & help scheme — hedges hard on ball screens and rotates aggressive help from the weak side.

Primary assignment projects to Ausar Thompson (elite stopper, 90 Perimeter D), Javonte Green secondary, with Jalen Duren as the low-man/help.

Model lines Murray at 27.6 pts (range 23.4–31.8) vs a 27 line — a lean to clear it (55%).

Biggest edge: opponent defense — soft unit — points come easier.

Model favors Detroit Pistons (62%), projected 116–119, ~235 total at 99.4 pace.

Detroit PistonsAggressive hedge & helpoff 64 · def 71.6 · pace 99.3
Cade CunninghamGuard
Medium · 64
PrimaryPeyton Watson· 84 Perimeter DStrong defender
Secondary: Aaron Gordon · help from Jonas Valančiūnas
MarketSeasonProjLineOverLean
Points26.827.8
2757%Lean over
Rebounds66.2
657%Lean over
Assists11.612.1
11.558%Over
Pts + Reb + Ast44.446.2
44.560%Over
Pts + Reb32.834.1
3358%Over
Pts + Ast38.439.9
38.559%Over
Points — chance to reach
25+72%30+32%35+6%
Pts + Reb + Ast — chance to reach
40+83%45+57%50+28%55+9%

Why — matchup factors

Opponent defense58.2/100
Soft unit — points come easier.
Primary defenderPeyton Watson · 84
Strong defender on the ball.
Pace99.4 poss
Up-tempo game — more possessions to fill the box score.
Scheme fitSwitch-heavy
Switches hand him the mismatch he hunts in iso.
VenueHome
Home floor — small boost.
RestRested
Rested — no back-to-back.

Cade Cunningham draws Denver Nuggets's switch-heavy scheme — switches 1–4 (or 1–5) to erase actions and keep bodies in front.

Primary assignment projects to Peyton Watson (strong defender, 84 Perimeter D), Aaron Gordon secondary, with Jonas Valančiūnas as the low-man/help.

Model lines Cunningham at 27.8 pts (range 23.6–32.1) vs a 27 line — a lean to clear it (57%).

Biggest edge: opponent defense — soft unit — points come easier.

Model favors Detroit Pistons (62%), projected 119–116, ~235 total at 99.4 pace.

Jalen DurenCenter
Medium · 61
PrimaryJonas Valančiūnas· 74 Rim protectionSolid defender
Secondary: Peyton Watson · help from Bruce Brown
MarketSeasonProjLineOverLean
Points23.324.4
23.558%Over
Rebounds11.311.7
11.554%Lean over
Assists2.42.5
2.550%Lean over
Pts + Reb + Ast3738.6
3762%Over
Pts + Reb34.636.1
34.562%Over
Pts + Ast25.726.9
25.563%Over
Points — chance to reach
20+86%25+44%30+9%
Pts + Reb + Ast — chance to reach
30+94%35+75%40+40%45+12%

Why — matchup factors

Opponent defense58.2/100
Soft unit — points come easier.
Primary defenderJonas Valančiūnas · 74
Solid defender on the ball.
Pace99.4 poss
Up-tempo game — more possessions to fill the box score.
Scheme fitSwitch-heavy
Neutral vs a switching scheme.
VenueHome
Home floor — small boost.
RestRested
Rested — no back-to-back.

Jalen Duren draws Denver Nuggets's switch-heavy scheme — switches 1–4 (or 1–5) to erase actions and keep bodies in front.

Primary assignment projects to Jonas Valančiūnas (solid defender, 74 Rim protection), Peyton Watson secondary, with Bruce Brown as the low-man/help.

Model lines Duren at 24.4 pts (range 20.6–28.1) vs a 23.5 line — a lean to clear it (58%).

Biggest edge: opponent defense — soft unit — points come easier.

Model favors Detroit Pistons (62%), projected 119–116, ~235 total at 99.4 pace.