Denver Nuggets (26-21) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (18-29)
January 28, 2022 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: New Orleans Pelicans 5.5; Over/Under: -214.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The New Orleans Pelicans play host to the Denver Nuggets at the Smoothie King Center on Friday night.
The Denver Nuggets have been in great shape as they’ve won eight of their past 11 games and they will be aiming for a fourth straight victory after sneaking past the Nets in a 124-118 road win on Wednesday. Nikola Jokic led the way with 26 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, Austin Rivers drained seven 3-pointers to finish with 25 points on eight of 11 shooting off the bench while Will Barton chipped in with 21 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. As a team, the Nuggets shot 47 percent from the field and 15 of 36 from the 3-point line as they struggled to keep up in the first half, before exploding for 42 points in the third quarter to turn a 12-point deficit into an 11-point lead. To be fair, the Nets were depleted on this occasion as they were without their three best players.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have been in decent form as they’ve won five of their past nine games and they will be hoping to bounce back after getting stopped by the 76ers in a 117-107 road loss on Tuesday. Willy Hernangomez led the team with 29 points and 10 rebounds on 11 of 15 shooting, Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the scoring with 31 points and five assists while Jaxson Hayes chipped in with 15 points off the bench. As a team, the Pelicans shot 48 percent from the field and nine of 22 from the 3-point line as they controlled the first half to lead by as many as 10 points, but it didn’t last as they got outscored by 67-49 in the second half as they just had no answer for the 76ers’ Joel Embiid who torched them for 42 points.
Looking at the betting trends, the Nuggets are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games against a team with a losing record, 0-4-1 ATS in their last five road games and 0-5-1 ATS in their last six games overall. The Pelicans are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games playing on two days’ rest, 3-0-1 ATS in their last four home games and 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine games overall.
Head to head, the under is 5-1 in the last six meetings overall and the Nuggets are 3-8 ATS in the last 11 meetings overall.
The Pelicans could be shorthanded once again as Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart are both listed as questionable, while the Nuggets will be without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr once again. The Nuggets are clear favorites in this matchup, especially with the Pelicans missing two of their best scorers, so I’m taking the Nuggets to get the win and cover at the short line.
