Tip-off: Friday, 7:05 p.m. ET
Line: Washington -4.5, Total: 207

The Nuggets kick off a three-game road trip when they head to the nation's capital Friday night to take on the Wizards.

Denver started out the season poorly, winning just two of its first nine games (SU and ATS), but has since found its rhythm in going 7-2 SU (6-2-1 ATS) in the past nine contests. The Nuggets have shot better than 48% FG in five of those nine games as they have averaged a solid 109.4 PPG. On Tuesday, they hosted the Blazers as 3-point underdogs and suffered a close 105-103 loss after Portland outscored them by nine in the final quarter. They outrebounded their opponent 41-37 and even shot more efficiently from the field (51% to 50%), but struggled with 14 turnovers which the Trail Blazers took advantage of to the tune of 23 points. The John Wall-led Wizards have looked fantastic in the early going and are currently second in the Eastern Conference while leading the Southeast Division. Despite their solid SU record, the Wizards are a mere 8-8 ATS while covering in each of the past two contests. They bring a three-game SU winning streak into this one, in which they have defeated New Orleans, Miami and the Lakers at home by an average of 13.3 PPG, and have shot better than 46% from the floor in each game. Washington has also held its opponents under 100 points in each game of the homestand thus far; including keeping the Lakers in check with a 111-95 victory as 9-point favorites on Wednesday night. They held L.A. to 38.8% shooting while grabbing 10 more rebounds and dishing out an amazing 33 assists. These two teams have played some close matchups over the past two years with the average margin of victory being a mere 3.5 PPG, as each club has grabbed two wins. Last season it was Denver’s turn to be the victor in this series, as it won both times and forced 24 turnovers in a 105-102 win the last time they met. Trends show us that the Nuggets are 46-26 ATS (64%) when coming off a home loss to a division rival since 1996, while Washington is 8-2 ATS (80%) off a home win in the past three seasons where it scored 110+ points. On the injury front, SG Randy Foye (quad) will remain out for Denver while both C Nene (foot) and SF Paul Pierce (toe) are listed as questionable for the Wizards.

Can the Wizards secure a comfortable victory on Friday night? For the answer, connect to The Platinum Sheet for all the Expert picks throughout the entire 2014-15 season. StatFox Forecaster has a 63% ATS record (55-33) in featured games this season. StatFox Gary has a 59% ATS record (16-11) in NBA Best Bets this season, while StatFox Brian is 5-2 ATS in NBA Best Bets since Nov. 23.

The Nuggets offense has started clicking of late and currently ranks fifth in the league with 105.2 PPG, and playa at a fast pace, as they are shooting just 44.6% from the floor. The reason that they aren’t better than .500 this season is their putrid defense which has allowed 105.2 PPG (4th-worst in league) on 44.9% shooting, and have given up more than 100 points in 12-of-18 contests. PG Ty Lawson (16.6 PPG, 10.3 APG, 1.4 SPG) has been the one constant on the team and is currently riding a six-game streak of double-doubles in which he has averaged 17.5 PPG and 12.5 APG. He’s done well over his seven career games (5 starts) against Washington too, going for 18.0 PPG (51% FG), 6.3 APG and 1.1 SPG. SF Wilson Chandler (13.3 PPG, 6.1 RPG) is coming off a solid performance against the Blazers (18 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals) and has hit 13-of-28 threes (46%) in his past five games. Over his career against the Wizards (13 games, 10 starts), Chandler has tallied 15.9 PPG (49% FG) and 5.5 RPG. PF Kenneth Faried (11.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG) has not been all too impressive so far on the year, and has been benched down the stretch in many recent games. He has started against the Wizards four times in the past and gone for 10.5 PPG (50% FG) with 6.3 RPG.

Washington has not lit up the scoreboard with the 13th-fewest points in the league (98.9 PPG) behind a solid shooting percentage (46.7% FG), which ranks fifth in the NBA and has the fifth-most assists (25.2 APG). Where the Wizards typically get their wins is on the defensive end as they are allowing 95.9 PPG (6th in NBA) on 43.1% shooting from the floor (5th in league). PG John Wall (18.1 PPG, 9.6 APG, 4.4 RPG, 2.2 SPG) has shot a poor 40% FG over the past five games, but has three double-doubles in that time, as he has been one of the best point guards in the league this season. He’s struggled against Denver in his seven career games against them though, while averaging 14.1 PPG (37% FG), 9.1 APG and 1.4 SPG. C Marcin Gortat (13.8 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.4 BPG) has shot 56% from the field so far and has three consecutive double-doubles coming into this game in which he has averaged 20.0 PPG and 11.3 RPG. He tagged the Nuggets for 16.0 PPG (52% FG) and 9.0 RPG over two games last season. SG Bradley Beal (14.8 PPG, 3.3 APG, 1.4 SPG, 48% threes) has played just eight games this season after missing returning from a broken wrist, and is looking like he is getting back to game speed while coming off a great performance in the win over the Lakers with 27 points and seven assists. Denver has not given him any issues in his three career meetings in this series, as he has dropped in 20.3 PPG (49% FG) while grabbing 7.3 RPG and getting four each of steals and blocks.