Denver Nuggets vs. Brooklyn Nets Picks and Prediction for Sunday, January 4, 2026
Denver Nuggets (23-11) vs. Brooklyn Nets (10-22)
The Denver Nuggets head to Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, on Sunday afternoon to square off against the Brooklyn Nets in the cross-conference showdown with the tip-off at 3:30 PM ET, so we’ve got the Nuggets vs. Nets prediction along with the latest team stats and news.
Denver meets Brooklyn for the first time this season, and the Nuggets look for their sixth straight victory over the Nets. Last season, Denver and Brooklyn put on a show at Barclays Center, and the Nuggets outlasted the Nets 144-139 in overtime.
It was the Nets’ lone ATS victory in their last five dates with Denver. Now, let’s take a closer look at this Nuggets vs. Nets prediction, one of our NBA picks for Sunday’s slate.
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The Nuggets have serious injury problems
The Denver Nuggets (23-11; 20-14 ATS; 22-12 O/U) continue their seven-game road trip, and Sunday’s game at Brooklyn will be their fifth consecutive outing away from home. In their previous four showings, the Nuggets have gone 1-3 SU and 2-2 ATS.
Last Monday, the Nuggets suffered a heavy 147-123 defeat at the Miami Heat and lost Nikola Jokic (29.6 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 11.0 APG) for at least four weeks due to a hyperextended left knee. Two days later, the Nuggets outlasted the Toronto Raptors 106-103, but Jonas Valanciunas (8.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG), who replaced Jokic in the starting lineup, suffered a calf injury.
Last Friday, DaRon Holmes II entered the starting lineup, and the injury-depleted Nuggets suffered a 113-108 loss at the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jamal Murray led the way with 34 points, seven assists, and six rebounds, while Peyton Watson had 21 points and four boards. Denver scored just 11 points in the fourth quarter, and the Cavs outrebounded the Nuggets 55-32 on the night.
The Nuggets now miss four players from their original starting lineup. Aaron Gordon, Christian Brown, Cameron Johnson, and Nikola Jokic are all out, though head coach David Adelman said that Gordon and Brown could return by the end of the team’s ongoing road trip.
The Nets hope to snap their three-game skid
The Brooklyn Nets (10-22; 14-18 ATS; 13-19 O/U) have won five of their last 10 games overall, but they are on a three-game losing streak. During that three-game stretch, the Nets have suffered a couple of home defeats against the Golden State Warriors 120-107 and the Houston Rockets 120-96, along with a 119-99 road loss at the Washington Wizards.
Last Friday, the Nets made just 39.5% of their field goals at Capital One Arena in Washington, playing as 3-point underdogs. Brooklyn went 6-for-29 from beyond the arc and posted 18 fewer rebounds than the Wizards (51-33). Seven Nets scored in double figures, but no one had more than 14 points.
Cam Thomas (21.4 PPG), Michael Porter Jr. (25.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG), and Nic Claxton (13.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG) all missed the Wizards game. Thomas (hamstring injury management) should be ready to play against the Nuggets, while Porter Jr. (illness) and Claxton (personal) are both listed as questionable.
The Nets score 111.7 points per 100 possessions (26th in the NBA) and allow 117.2 points in return (19th). Brooklyn turns the ball over on 14.3% of its possessions (tied for 29th) and makes just 34.3% of its shots from deep (25th).
Nuggets vs. Nets Pick
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  The Insiders Room | +1,793.00 |
| 2 |  Tony Karpinski | +1,731.00 |
| 3 |  Jesse Schule | +1,599.00 |
| 4 |  Rob Vinciletti | +1,284.00 |
| 5 |  David Delano | +1,232.00 |
Spread Pick for Nuggets vs. Nets
- Brooklyn Nets (4 units)
With Nikola Jokic and Jonas Valanciunas both on the shelf, the Nuggets lack size in the paint. Their frontcourt is seriously shorthanded, and the Nuggets might struggle to contain the Nets, especially if Michael Porter Jr. returns. Porter Jr. missed two straight games, and the former Nugget must be fired up to play against his former teammates.
The Nets are turnover-prone, but the Nuggets don’t force a lot of turnovers (28th in the NBA in defensive turnover percentage, 10.9%). Both teams have struggled to defend this season, and given the Nuggets’ injury problems, I have to take the Nets.
Over/Under Pick for Nuggets vs. Nets
- Under (4 units)
The Nuggets score 124.6 points per 100 possessions (1st in the NBA) and surrender 117.8 points in return (tied for 22nd). But their offense is not the same without Nikola Jokic, and the Nuggets couldn’t hit a 110-point mark in two games without their best player.
The Nets are second in the NBA in 3-point rate (.480), but their 3-point percentage is poor. Brooklyn should look to attack the rim more than usual, given the Nuggets’ injuries. The Nets play at a slow pace, tallying 97.5 possessions per 48 minutes (27th in the league), so I’m going with the under. The Nuggets record 99.1 possessions per 48 minutes (tied for 21st).
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