Denver Nuggets vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction
| Game Time | 7:00 pm EST |
| Denver Nuggets Line | -8.5 |
| New Orleans Pelicans Line | +8.5 |
| Total | 231.5 |
| TV: | NBA TV |
Below is a detailed analysis for Denver Nuggets vs New Orleans Pelicans game.
PREGAME WARM-UP:
In this all-Western battle between two teams sitting on opposite sides of the conference table, the New Orleans Pelicans are hosting the Denver Nuggets. The Pelicans have been terrible this season, as they have been ravaged by injuries. They have won just once in their last fifteen games, and have fallen on the bottom of the West. The Nuggets are coming off a loss that ended their previous three-game winning streak, and are on their third and final stop of a three-game road trip in the West.
Denver Nuggets vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction
New Orleans Pelicans Injury Report: Daniel Theis is day-to-day, Karlo Matkovic, Jose Alvarado, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson are out
Denver Nuggets Injury Report: Dario Saric is questionable, Daron Holmes and Vlatko Cancar are out
New Orleans Pelicans Form and Trends
The Pelicans have a 5-23 record this season and are sitting on the last place of the West. New Orleans is 10-18 against the spread and 13-14-1 in over/under. The Pelicans have a 4-9 home record, and are 7-6 against the spread, with a -4.8-point differential. New Orleans is 1-14 in their last 15 games, but 3-3 against the spread in their last 6. Over is 5-2 in their last 7 games.
The Pelicans are coming off a 113-133 loss in Houston, as they got torched by the Rockets who shot with 57% from the field. All of New Orleans starters reached double digits in scoring, led by Trey Murphy III with 28 points with 4 triples and 3 assists.
Zion Williamson leads the Pels in scoring with 22.7 points, adding 8 rebounds and 5.3 assists. Brandon Ingram adds 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists but both are out with injuries.
Denver Nuggets Recent Form and Trends
The Nuggets have a 14-11 record this season and are sitting on the 6th place of the West. Denver is 10-14-1 against the spread and 16-8-1 in over/under. The Nuggets have a 7-7 road record but are 6-8 against the spread with a +3-point differential. Denver is 3-1 in their last 4 games. Over is 4-1-1 in their last 6 games.
Denver is coming off a 124-125 loss in Portland, even they shot much better than the Blazers from the field (54% to 46%). Nikola Jokic led Denver’s offense with 34 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists, as he failed to reach double digits in rebounding for the second time in his last three games.
Jokic leads Denver in scoring with an average of 31 points, in rebounding with 13 and in assists made with 9.8. Jamal Murray adds 18.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists.
Statistical Breakdown
Offensively, the Pels are dead last in the league, averaging 105.4 points per game. They shoot 43.7% from the field (29th) and 33.3% from beyond the arc (26th). Defensively, the Pels allow 116.9 points per game, which is just 23rd in the league.
Offensively, the Nuggets are averaging 119.4 points per game, which is the fourth-best in the NBA. Denver shoots with 49.6% from the field, which is the third-best in the NBA, and with 38.3% from beyond the arc, which is the fifth-best in the league. Defensively, they are allowing 116 points per game, which ranks 22nd in the NBA.
In their previous meeting earlier this season, the Pelicans won 101-94 at home. The Pelicans are 3-1 in their last 4 meetings in New Orleans, and are 5-3 against the spread in their last 8 overall meetings. Under is 4-0 in their last 4 meetings in New Orleans.
Prediction
In this Denver Nuggets vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction, the Nuggets are coming as -8.5 road favorites. The Nuggets are rightfully favored against the worst team of the West, who are also in their second leg of a back-to-back. Denver is playing better lately and their offense has been red-hot this season, as they are a top-5 team in points scored, in field goal percentage and in 3-point percentage. On the other hand, the Pelicans are a bottom-5 team in all three aforementioned categories. I expect the Nuggets to get the job done here, so take the Denver Nuggets and lay the points on the road. Nick’s Pick: Denver Nuggets -8.5
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