NBA Betting Picks and Predictions: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Denver Nuggets

January 12, 2024

The Denver Nuggets get set to meet the New Orleans Pelicans Friday night inside the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. They tip it off at 10:00 pm. This is an interesting contest on paper and this could be a very entertaining game when these two teams clash. Bookmaker has installed the Nuggets as a 6-point favorite.

Denver Nuggets Betting Preview

The Nuggets (26-13) have won two out of three and nine out of 11 overall and in the process have been able to push their record to 13 games over .500. They are a game back of Minnesota in the Northwest Standings and you know a run is coming from the defending NBA champions.

On offense, they are led by All-Star and perennial MVP candidate Nikola Jokic, who once again is putting up monster numbers early on. He leads the team in scoring with 25 points per game to go along with just under 12 rebounds per clip. He is a sensational player and the Pelicans will have to keep him in check in this one.

In his career, he has torched New Orleans to the tune of 30 points per meeting and look for him to get his shot up and going early. He also will look to get his teammates into the fold as well, especially when he looks to find Jamal Murray slashing to the rim.

Murray is a wonderful player and a rising star in the league and he adds 20.5 points per night and he also chips in with just under four rebounds per contest.

Denver shoots close to 56% from the floor, including 31% from beyond the arc. They need to do a better job of rebuilding and winning the battle on the boards.

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview

The Pelicans (23-15) have also had a nice little burst and run of late, ripping off six of seven wins overall as they have turned their season around with this run. They are an impressive eight games over .500 and a game in front of Dallas for the top spot in the Southwest Standings

They are a very entertaining team to watch and they also have some exciting scorers and athleticism too. They are led on offense by Brandon Ingram who is netting close to 22 points a game, while teammate and rising star Zion Williamson is contributing 21.7 a game. Both these two make a wonderful scoring tandem and if Williamson can stay healthy and engaged on the floor then the Pelicans can win some games here and there and put themselves in position to make the playoffs.

As a team, the Pelicans are connecting on 54% from the floor, while connecting on 31% from beyond the arc. The Pelicans are scoring around 116 a game this season.

Game Odds, Series Trends and Free Pick

Denver is 3-2 in their last five games and 2-3 in their last five games against the number. They are also 7-13 in their roadgames against the spread too and the totals have gone over in three out of their last five games. The Pelicans are 4-1 in their last five games and 4-1 in their last five games against the spread and the Pelicans are 10-7 in their road games against the number.

Pick: Denver Nuggets -6

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