Denver at San Antonio

The Denver Nuggets ended their best regular season in 17 years (49-33, 44-36-3 ATS) will face the #2 seed San Antonio Spurs (59-23, 43-37-2 ATS) in first round action with the series best described as Offense vs Defense. Nuggets ranked #4 on the season in Western Conference scoring with 99.5 points/game on 45.9% shooting but more impressively have netted 107.5 point/game it's last twenty-nine as they came down the stretch 25-4 (21-7-1 ATS). So, can the inexperienced Nuggets get off a quick start or will they need to wait till the series returns to the Pepsi Center where Denver has won 19 of last 20 (17-3 ATS)? Tough one, Spurs #1 defense allowing 88.3 points/game resulted in an awesome 38-3 (24-15-2 ATS) mark on home hardwood and a solid 22-3 (14-11 ATS) record vs a conference opponent in front of the home crowd. The experienced postseason Spurs were 4-1 against-the-spread as home favorites in last years second season battles while Nuggets were 1-2 ATS as road dogs in it's short appearance. But, bottom line - this spread is too big. Denver was one of the hottest teams before the very end when they let up post playoff clinch. They have a shot at stealing one against the Spurs and we're getting great value here at +8. Two stars on the Nuggets plus the points.