NBA Odds - Pistons vs. Nuggets

A let-down game. Bettors know them well, and they are worth jumping on, similar to trap games.

Well, you almost have to expect the Detroit Pistons to have some sort of let-down game Monday night in Denver.

The Pistons are coming off one of the most impressive wins of the NBA season, 116-86 over Phoenix on Sunday. But playing back-to-back and in the altitude? That sounds like a win ripe for the taking for Denver, which is why the game is a pick'em on WagerWeb.com.

I'd feel better about being solidly behind Denver if the Nuggets weren't coming off two consecutive losses to Eastern Conference teams with losing records.

Allen Iverson scored 26 points and Carmelo Anthony had 25, but the Nuggets squandered a 23-point, second-quarter lead Saturday (their biggest blown lead of the season) en route to a 115-109 defeat at Milwaukee. The setback came one night after a 135-121 loss at Chicago, and dropped Denver into a tie with Golden State for the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference.

Actually, Denver has allowed at least 109 points in each of its last five games, and is 2-3 in that stretch.

But the Nuggets are a very good 22-6 at home and 12-1 against Eastern Conference teams at the Pepsi Center.

That's fine, but the Pistons have won four of their past six games in Denver and 10 of the past 12 overall meetings."They are a defensive, executing, consistent basketball team," Nuggets coach George Karl said of the Pistons. "They don't beat themselves. On most given games, they're an 'A' to 'A-minus' defensive team, and they have a lot of weapons that get hot and figure out who's going to be shooting. And now their bench is playing well. They're very, very powerful."

Detroit is 12-2 since losing a season-high three straight from Jan. 18-21.

"This was a big game for us," said Pistons guard Chauncey Billups, who had 14 points and 11 assists against the Suns. "You know how we are, man, when we play against other elite teams, we lock in. We lock in big-time. I thought everybody played great -- everybody."

Billups, a former Nugget, is averaging 23.0 points and 9.7 assists in the three games, increasing his season averages to 17.5 and a team-high 7.1, respectively.

Meanwhile, Denver center Marcus Camby, who leads the NBA with 4.0 blocked shots per game, has averaged 6.0 in his past five games, and power forward Kenyon Martin had 14 rebounds at Milwaukee, his most since 17 on Jan. 18, 2006, against Cleveland.

But Denver's defense has been lacking all season, as the Nuggets allow 104.9 points per game, better than only Indiana (105.0) and Golden State (108.1).

Still, I like Denver here.

ATS	Detroit	Denver
Record:	41-15-0 (.732)	33-22-0 (.600)
As Favorite:	37-12-0 (.755)	26-11-0 (.703)
As Underdog:	4-3-0 (.571)	7-11-0 (.389)
At Home:	22-5-0 (.815)	22-6-0 (.786)
On Road:	19-10-0 (.655)	11-16-0 (.407)

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