Denver Nuggets (14-11) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (5-23)
December 22, 2024 7:00 pm EDT
The Line: New Orleans Pelicans +8; Over/Under: +231
(Get latest betting odds)
The New Orleans Pelicans play host to the Denver Nuggets at the Smoothie King Center on Sunday night. Here’s a New Orleans Pelicans vs Denver Nuggets Prediction. This article will include a New Orleans Pelicans vs Denver Nuggets Pick.
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets have been in decent shape as they’ve won four of their last seven games, but they will be hoping to bounce back here after having their three-game win streak halted by the Trail Blazers in a 126-124 road defeat on Thursday. Nikola Jokic led the team with 34 points and eight assists on 13 of 18 shooting, Jamal Murray added 24 points with 10 assists, Russell Westbrook scored 19 points off the bench while Michael Porter Jr. chipped in with 16 points. As a team, the Nuggets shot 54 percent from the field and 15 of 34 from the 3-point line as they worked hard to erase a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter, only to see the Trail Blazers’ Anfernee Simons steal the game at the buzzer with the game-winning layup.
New Orleans Pelicans
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have been in terrible form as they’ve lost 24 of their first 29 games and they will be hoping to arrest a six-game slide after falling to the Knicks in a 104-93 loss last night. Trey Murphy led the team with 26 points on 11 of 18 shooting, Dejounte Murray added 14 points with nine rebounds and eight assists while CJ McCollum chipped in with 13 points, but no other player finished in double figures in scoring. As a team, the Pelicans shot 41 percent from the field and 12 of 34 from the 3-point line as they played great defense early on to take the narrow lead into halftime, but they couldn’t keep it up in the second half where they got outscored by 59-44 to lose by double digits for the third straight game.
Why the Denver Nuggets will win
- The Nuggets have won 13 of their last 14 games on the first leg of a back-to-back after losing as favorites.
- The Pelicans have lost each of their last six night games on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- The Nuggets have covered the spread in six of their last seven night games at Smoothie King Center following a road loss.
- The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in three of their last four games against opponents who are on the first leg of a back-to-back.
Total Points Facts
- Seven of the last eight games between the Nuggets and Pelicans at Smoothie King Center have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Each of the Nuggets’ last five games at Smoothie King Center have gone UNDER the total points line.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Denver Nuggets Prediction
The Nuggets are still missing Dario Saric and Vlatko Cancar, while the Pelicans are still playing without Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Jose Alverado. The Nuggets were starting to heat up with three straight wins before they lost a heartbreaker to the lowly Trail Blazers in their last outing so they will be keen to bounce back in this one and I think they found an ideal opponent in the Pelicans who have been struggling all season. The Knicks are also playing their second game of a back to back set, so I think the Nuggets represent decent value in this spot.
