New Orleans Pelicans vs Denver Nuggets Prediction, Preview and Odds - 01/12/2024

Game Time: 10:00 pm ET, Friday, January 12, 2024

Venue:  Ball Arena, Denver, CO

Where to Watch:  ESPN

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Pelicans +6, Nuggets -6; Over/Under:  229.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Pelicans +6, Nuggets -6; Over/Under:  229.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Pelicans +6, Nuggets -6; Over/Under:  229.5 points

New Orleans Pelicans:  23-15 (1st place, Southwest Division)

Denver Nuggets:  26-13 (3rd place, Northwest Division)

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New Orleans Pelicans:  7-3 last 10

Denver Nuggets:  7-3 last 10

The Pelicans are entering this game with a 23-15 record overall and they are 11-7 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 2 game winning streak with wins coming against the Sacramento Kings and the Golden State Warriors in their last game. Jonas Valančiūnas led the team in points in that game with 21 while Zion Williamson was next on the team with 19 points. CJ McCollum led the team in assists in that game with 8 while Jonas Valančiūnas led the team in rebounds with 9. They were 57.4% from the field, 47.5% from 3-point range, and 73.7% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 116.4 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 111.4 PPG against them. The Pelicans have an ATS record of 22-15-1 this season and their O/U record is 18-19-1.

The Nuggets are entering this game with a 26-13 record overall and they are 15-4 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Utah Jazz in their last game. Nikola Jokić led the team in points in that game with 27 while Jamal Murray was next on the team with 17 points. Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray each led the team in assists in that game with 6 while Nikola Jokić led the team in rebounds with 11. They were 45.7% from the field, 39.4% from 3-point range, and 85.7% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 115.9 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 111 PPG against them. The Nuggets have an ATS record of 17-21-1 this season and their O/U record is 16-23.

The current betting odds have the Pelicans listed as a 6 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Pelicans have looked good in their games this season with their 23-15 record overall which has them climbing the standings in the West right now. They are only 11-7 in their road games this season but they have been one of the best road teams in the NBA lately. They are also entering this game with 2 wins in a row now so they have a lot of momentum on their side here. Meanwhile, the Nuggets have looked really good in their games this season with their 26-13 record overall which has them sitting in 3rd place in the West. They have looked a lot better in their home games too with their 15-4 home record, but lately they haven't looked that good in their games. They just lost their last game to the Jazz and they have been really up and down lately with losses to some weaker teams. The Pelicans have been rolling lately, especially in their road games, and they are going to bring their best effort here for the defending champions of the NBA. Even if the Nuggets win this game on their home court, they haven't looked good enough lately to blow out a team like the Pelicans with the way they have been playing. The best way to place a bet here is on the Pelicans to cover the spread in this game. 

Pelicans Nuggets Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Friday, January 12, 2024 (10:00 pm ET start time) is Nuggets 126 Pelicans 123.

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New Orleans Pelicans: 1-6 ATS off a road win by 10 points or more. 7-14 ATS after scoring 136 points or more. 31-14 UNDER as a road underdog of 6 points or less. 42-23 UNDER when the total is greater than or equal to 230. 13-4 UNDER after one or more consecutive overs. 14-7 UNDER after a game where they covered the spread.

Denver Nuggets: 13-5 ATS off a loss against a division rival. 15-7 ATS off an upset loss by 10 points or more as a favorite. 20-11 UNDER when the total is greater than or equal to 220. 28-19 UNDER against Southwest division opponents. 13-7 UNDER off an upset loss to a division rival as a favorite of 6 or more.

New Orleans Pelicans:  M. Ryan (SF) Mid Feb - Elbow.

Denver Nuggets:  J. Strawther (SG) Out indefinitely - Knee. V. Cancar (SF) Out indefinitely - Knee.

“We're blessed and grateful to have two games like that where we start off dominating. It's hard to do against two teams that move and shoot the ball the way they do…. Credit to Jarron Collins and Coach JB who worked on this scout tonight and we really worked on it in practice, we worked on it in film, and the guys went out and executed the game plan.” - Willie Green after his team’s win against the Warriors in their game on Wednesday.

“They played harder than us. I think that was the most obvious thing for me. They came out with tremendous energy. They attacked us for 48 (minutes) and I didn’t think we came close to matching that.” - Michael Malone after his team’s loss against the Jazz in their game on Wednesday.

PG CJ McCollum

SG Brandon Ingram

SF Herbert Jones

PF Zion Williamson

C Jonas Valanciunas

PG Jamal Murray

SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

SF Michael Porter Jr.

PF Aaron Gordon

C Nikola Jokic

PPG: B. Ingram (22)

APG: B. Ingram (5.4)

Reb/G: J. Valanciunas (9.7)

PPG: N. Jokic (25.5)

APG: N. Jokic (9.2)

Reb/G: N. Jokic (11.8)

Coaches:

New Orleans Pelicans: Willie Green (3rd season)

Denver Nuggets: Michael Malone (9th season)