San Antonio Spurs vs. Denver Nuggets: 3 Best Bets

Before the San Antonio Spurs face off with the Denver Nuggets, we have you covered with our three best bets.

Mar 15, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) and guard Jamal Murray (27) greet San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich / Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

For the third time this season, the San Antonio Spurs will take on Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. Jokic had high praise for Spurs' rookie Victor Wembanyama, who is yet to beat Denver in his young career.

The Nuggets are aiming to secure the top seed in the Western Conference as they gear up for a title run, and the Spurs are just trying to develop their young talent. Expect Sidy Cissoko minutes with Jeremy Sochan and Devin Vassell out for the season.

Mar 15, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) shoots over San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) / Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

Both teams have a rather loaded injury report. The Nuggets will be without Vlatko Cancar, Jamal Murray, and Zeke Nnaji. Jokic and Aaron Gordon are both probable. San Antonio won't play Charles Bassey, Keldon Johnson, Sochan, Vassell, and Dom Barlow.

Keep it posted for our three best bets, courtesy of the lines at SI Sportsbook.

The Lines

Point spread: Nuggets -16.5 (-105)/Spurs +16.5 (-118)

Money line: Nuggets (-2000)/Spurs (+900)

Over/under: 223.5

Our Picks

Safe pick: Victor Wembanyama OVER 24.5 points (-133)

This is a higher line than usual, but with the Spurs' second and fourth scorers out, the offense will run through Wembanyama. He has averaged 27 points over his last five games and is attempting over seven threes per night, so expect him to keep pulling the trigger and stuffing the statsheet.

Opponent pick: Nikola Jokic to record a triple-double (+175)

Without high-end defenders Sochan and Vassell in the lineup, Jokic should have no trouble finding the open man, who will hit his shots. He might struggle to score against Wembanyama, but he posted 31 points in the last matchup, so that shouldn't be an issue. With Sochan out, Jokic will only have to beat one man on the glass.

Shooting pick: Julian Champagnie OVER 1.5 threes made (-150)

Over his last five games, Julian Champagnie has made 1.6 threes on average. With no Sochan, Vassell, or Johnson, his minutes will be increased until garbage time (which might start early!) and Cissoko gets to play under the bright lights. With Wembanyama's gravity collapsing Denver's defense into the paint, Champagnie will get plenty of open looks.