Nikola Jokic is simply the best basketball player alive and frankly I don't think there is a close second. With that being said, this is a tall order against a very tough Cleveland frontcourt that I would argue is the best defensive big man duo in the NBA. Jokic has also struggled against Jarrett Allen, failing to eclipse 29+ points in their last 11 H2H matchups. Evan Mobley is also a legitimate DPOY candidate and Cleveland does a good job of staggering Mobley and Allen's minutes so one will always be guarding Joker. Lastly, the Nuggetes are fully healthy and have no shortage of scorers. If we look at the path of least resistance, opposing guards are scoring a more vs the Cavs than bigs.

The Denver Nuggets over their last ten games are only .500 with a 5-5 record. Yet, they picked up a come from behind win on Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors that may finally spark them. They came back from a 7 point deficit with four minutes left, and held the Warriors scoreless under the final two minutes and thirty two seconds. As impressive as the Cavaliers start has been to the season, they are just 4-3 over their last seven games. Grab the points with Denver.

Needless to say, a team with Nikola Jokic can win any game as we nearly saw him lead Serbia past the USA in the Olympics. But Cleveland would seem set up better than most to deal with him thanks to the Twin Towers of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. It's Denver's first game in the Eastern Time Zone since late October and maybe a bit of a letdown off that wild win Tuesday over rival Golden State. This also starts a long trip. NBA-best Cleveland is 12-1 at home. These teams split last season, each winning easily at home.