Matchup
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Denver Nuggets @ Detroit Pistons

Matchup model · Wednesday, November 18, 2026

Denver Nuggets
Away · off 76.9 / def 80.8
49% win
@
114114
proj · O/U 228 · 98.8 pace
Detroit Pistons
Home · off 63.8 / def 78
51% win

Game markets

Moneyline
Denver Nuggets+104
Detroit Pistons-104
51% / 49% win
Spread
Detroit Pistons 0
home covers 51%
+670%+361%051%-341%-631%
Total
O/U 228
98.8 pace
220o67%224o59%228o50%232o41%236o33%
Denver NuggetsSwitch-heavyoff 76.9 · def 80.8 · pace 99.6
Nikola JokićCenter
Medium · 63
PrimaryJalen Duren· 76 Rim protectionSolid defender
Secondary: Ausar Thompson · help from Javonte Green
Last 529.4 pts / 13 reb / 11 ast— Steady +1.7
32
LAL
25
@MIN
29
GSW
34
@SAC
27
DAL
MarketSeasonProjLineOverLean
Points27.728.5
27.558%Over
Rebounds12.913.2
1353%Lean over
Assists10.711
10.557%Lean over
Pts + Reb + Ast51.352.7
51.556%Lean over
Pts + Reb40.641.7
40.557%Lean over
Pts + Ast38.439.5
38.556%Lean over
Points — chance to reach
25+76%30+38%35+9%
Pts + Reb + Ast — chance to reach
45+85%50+64%55+38%60+16%65+5%

Why — matchup factors

Recent form29.4 pts L5
Right at his season pace over the last five.
Opponent defense78/100
Middle-of-the-pack defense.
Primary defenderJalen Duren · 76
Solid defender on the ball.
Pace98.8 poss
League-average tempo.
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 28.5 pts (range 24.1–32.8) vs a 27.5 line — a lean to clear it (58%).

Model favors Detroit Pistons (51%), projected 114–114, ~228 total at 98.8 pace.

Jamal MurrayGuard
Medium · 66
PrimaryAusar Thompson· 90 Perimeter DElite stopper
Secondary: Javonte Green · help from Jalen Duren
Last 524.8 pts / 4.2 reb / 7.2 ast— Steady -0.6
28
LAL
19
@MIN
31
GSW
22
@SAC
24
DAL
MarketSeasonProjLineOverLean
Points25.425.3
25.548%Lean under
Rebounds4.44.4
4.548%Lean under
Assists7.17.3
756%Lean over
Pts + Reb + Ast36.937
3750%Lean over
Pts + Reb29.829.7
3048%Lean under
Pts + Ast32.532.6
32.551%Lean over
Points — chance to reach
20+89%25+53%30+14%
Pts + Reb + Ast — chance to reach
30+91%35+65%40+28%45+6%

Why — matchup factors

Recent form24.8 pts L5
Right at his season pace over the last five.
Opponent defense78/100
Middle-of-the-pack defense.
Primary defenderAusar Thompson · 90
Elite stopper on the ball.
Pace98.8 poss
League-average tempo.
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 25.3 pts (range 21.4–29.2) vs a 25.5 line — roughly a coin flip to clear it (48%).

Model favors Detroit Pistons (51%), projected 114–114, ~228 total at 98.8 pace.

Detroit PistonsAggressive hedge & helpoff 63.8 · def 78 · pace 97.9
Cade CunninghamGuard
Medium · 58
PrimaryPeyton Watson· 84 Perimeter DStrong defender
Secondary: Aaron Gordon · help from Jonas Valančiūnas
MarketSeasonProjLineOverLean
Points23.924
2450%Lean under
Rebounds5.55.6
5.553%Lean over
Assists9.910.1
1051%Lean over
Pts + Reb + Ast39.339.6
39.551%Lean over
Pts + Reb29.429.6
29.551%Lean over
Pts + Ast33.834
3450%Lean over
Points — chance to reach
20+84%25+40%30+7%
Pts + Reb + Ast — chance to reach
35+80%40+47%45+17%

Why — matchup factors

Opponent defense80.8/100
Middle-of-the-pack defense.
Primary defenderPeyton Watson · 84
Strong defender on the ball.
Pace98.8 poss
League-average tempo.
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 24 pts (range 20.3–27.6) vs a 24 line — roughly a coin flip to clear it (50%).

Biggest edge: scheme fit — switches hand him the mismatch he hunts in iso.

Model favors Detroit Pistons (51%), projected 114–114, ~228 total at 98.8 pace.

Jalen DurenCenter
Medium · 55
PrimaryJonas Valančiūnas· 74 Rim protectionSolid defender
Secondary: Peyton Watson · help from Bruce Brown
MarketSeasonProjLineOverLean
Points19.519.7
19.552%Lean over
Rebounds10.510.7
10.553%Lean over
Assists22
251%Lean over
Pts + Reb + Ast3232.4
3254%Lean over
Pts + Reb3030.4
3053%Lean over
Pts + Ast21.521.7
21.553%Lean over
Points — chance to reach
15+92%20+46%25+6%
Pts + Reb + Ast — chance to reach
30+70%35+28%40+5%

Why — matchup factors

Opponent defense80.8/100
Middle-of-the-pack defense.
Primary defenderJonas Valančiūnas · 74
Solid defender on the ball.
Pace98.8 poss
League-average tempo.
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 19.7 pts (range 16.7–22.7) vs a 19.5 line — a lean to clear it (52%).

Biggest edge: venue — home floor — small boost.

Model favors Detroit Pistons (51%), projected 114–114, ~228 total at 98.8 pace.