NBA 2018-19 Predictions: Picking winners from games on 23rd October

#3 Denver Nuggets at Sacramento Kings, Golden 1 Center

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Win/Loss column: Nuggets 3-0, Kings 1-2

Rest: Nuggets - 1 day, Kings - 1 day

Preview:

The Nuggets have stamped their authority as a top-4 seed contender in the Western Conference playoff picture with a 3-0 start to the season. This includes a win over the Warriors at the Pepsi Center - the site of the biggest home advantage in North American sports historically, while they also put away the Clippers and the Phoenix Suns in the 2 games before that.

They have Nikola Jokic, Gary Harris and Jamal Murray all in rude form, and they'll be a force to reckon with for the Kings, who have among the worst defenses in the league.

While De'Aaron Fox has begun the season averaging 20/5/8 in just over 30 minutes a game, he will be confronted with a sturdier-looking Nuggets defense that has yet to concede over 100 points in 3 outings. Rookies Marvin Bagley and Harry Giles are coming off the bench to start the season, though, and they're capable of providing an offensive impetus.

Matchup to look out for: Jamal Murray vs De'Aaron Fox

Fox's jumpshot seems to have improved by leaps and bounds, and his straight line speed will be too much for any player on the Nuggets to stop him for the duration of the game. On the flip side, Murray is one hell of an isolation player, and will keep Fox busy coming off screens sporadically through the night.

Prediction: The Nuggets blow the Kings out by a 20-point margin, with the outcome of the game clear by around halftime.