The Denver Nuggets and the New Orleans Pelicans do battle at the Smoothie King Center on Wednesday night. Here’s a Pelicans vs Nuggets Prediction. This article will include a Pelicans vs Nuggets Pick.
Denver Nuggets Betting Preview
The Denver Nuggets have been in stellar form to start the season as they’ve won 10 of their first 13 games. They will be hoping to bounce back in this one after having their seven-game win streak halted by the Bulls in a 130-127 loss on Monday. Nikola Jokic led the team with a triple-double of 36 points with 18 rebounds and 13 assists on 13 of 27 shooting, Jamal Murray tallied 34 points with 11 rebounds and four assists on 12 of 22 shooting while Aaron Gordon chipped in with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
As a team, the Nuggets shot 47 percent from the field and 14 of 36 from the 3-point line as they fought hard to erase an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Only to come up just short after the Bulls’ Kevin Huerter sunk a pair of free throws with 1.7 seconds left.
New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have been in terrible form as they’ve lost 12 of their first 14 games of the season. They will be hoping to stop a six-game slide after getting thrashed by the Thunder in a 126-109 loss on Monday. Jeremiah Fears led the team with 24 points on nine of 16 shooting, Trey Murphy III added 18 points on six of nine shooting while Micah Peavy chipped in with 16 points on seven of nine shooting off the bench.
As a team, the Pelicans shot 49 percent from the field and 12 of 28 from the 3-point line, but the writing was on the wall early in this one. The Pelicans knew they never really had a chance after getting outscored by an incredible 49-24 in the first quarter. To be fair, the Pelicans did rally for a while but the Thunder responded with another run in the third quarter to put them behind by 30 points.
Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win
- The home team has won seven of the last eight games between the Nuggets and Pelicans.
- The Nuggets have lost four of their last five games following a home loss.
- The home team has covered the spread in each of the last eight games between the Nuggets and Pelicans.
- The Nuggets have failed to cover the spread in each of their last five games at Smoothie King Center.
Why the Denver Nuggets will win
- The Pelicans have lost each of their last 15 games against teams that held a winning record.
- The favorites have won each of the Pelicans’ last 15 games at Smoothie King Center.
- The Nuggets have covered the spread in eight of their last nine games as favorites against Southwest Division opponents.
- The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in seven of their last eight games as home underdogs.
Total Points Facts
- Seven of the Pelicans’ last eight night games against Northwest Division opponents have gone OVER the total points line.
- Five of the Nuggets’ last six games at Smoothie King Center have gone UNDER the total points line.
Pelicans vs Nuggets Prediction
The Nuggets have ruled out Christian Braun and Julian Strawther for this one, while the Pelicans are keeping eyes on Saddiq Bey and Zion Williamson who are both questionable. The Nuggets were one of the hottest teams in the league before they got stopped in their tracks by the Bulls in an upset defeat on Monday.
I am sure they will bounce back against this slumping Pelicans team who have only won two games so far. The Nuggets will be disappointed with their effort in their last outing but I have them getting back in the win column with relative ease against a depleted Pelicans team who they’ve beaten the last four times they’ve met.