The total is at 212 currently.
Both teams are in the bottom 10 in defense and Golden State seems to have temporarily reverted back to its Don Nelson led days when playing defense was optional. Those were definitely fun teams to watch, but I am still uncertain which philosophy Mark Jackson is trying to implement.
The Warriors have scored 220 points or more in the last 3 games. However, they are 0-8 over 212 points, in regulation play, on the road this season. It will be tough, in my opinion, for them to keep scoring at this overall pace for a 4th straight outing, especially on the road.
Defensively, the Nuggets seem to have the most trouble with teams who possess a strong frontcourt player
(Bynum, Gasol, Cousins, LBJ, Millsap, Batum, Scola and Nowitzki have all had tremendous offensive games against Denver). The Warriors simply do not have a true stud on the interior. I don't put Lee, Biedrins, Wright or Udoh in the same category as any of those above-mentioned frontcourt players. The Nuggets should be able to contain the Warriors interior game tonight.
The Nuggets are obviously depleted offensively and without Gallinari, Brewer or Mozgov their rotation is very tight, essentially down to 8 men. I just don't see where their multiple high-scoring threats exist tonight. Andersen and Koufos are not scorers and Stone is a nonfactor. Andre Miller is key, as he is not a consistent scoring option, but more of a facilitator. He will get 30+ minutes tonight and I feel he will be used to slow the pace down and possibly post up on either the smaller Ellis or Curry, forcing them to play some defense, maybe getting them into foul trouble.
Can Nene, Harrington, Afflalo, Lawson and Fernandez carry the bulk of the scoring load? Certainly possible, but I think 4 of those 5 have to perform well above average to get over this total tonight. They will be tired and I suspect not all of them will be "on" tonight.
The Nuggets can lock down on the interior with Nene and Andersen, and the bulk of the scoring will come down to the backcourt.
I really like Lawson and Afflalo matching up with Curry and Ellis. They can limit the Warriors' open looks and drives with their speed and also force them to work on defense. Even though both teams are prolific 3 point shooting squads, the absence of Gallinari and the matching quickness of the backcourts will make it difficult for any one player to go crazy tonight, in my opinion.
I am on the under 212. Good luck in your wagers this evening.