Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Smoothie King Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Denver Nuggets travel to Smoothie King Center to play the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Denver as 1 point favorites.

The Nuggets come into this game with an overall record of 36-40. They are 4th in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 0.1 as they are averaging 111.5 points per game while giving up 111.4 per contest. The Pelicans have an overall record of 33-44. They currently are 4th in the Southwest Division. They are averaging 104.1 points per game and surrendering 105.7, good for a point differential of -1.6.

Valuable Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 41-34-1 against the spread

The Denver Nuggets are 49-26-1 against the over/under

Important New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 37-38-2 against the spread

The New Orleans Pelicans are 35-42-0 against the over/under

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

04/02/17 F Darrell Arthur Knee "?" Tuesday vs. New Orleans
04/02/17 PG Jameer Nelson Calf "?" Tuesday vs. New Orleans
04/02/17 F Will Barton Foot "?" Tuesday vs. New Orleans
03/04/17 G Mo Williams Knee out for season

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

10/22/16 F Quincy Pondexter Knee out for season
04/02/17 F Anthony Davis Ankle "?" to return.
03/17/17 C Omer Asik Illness out for season

Player Spotlight

Gary Harris comes into this contest averaging 14.8 points per game while playing 30.8 minutes per night so far this season for the Nuggets. He pulls down 3 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 50% while his free throw percentage is currently at 79%. Nikola Jokic averages 16.5 points per game in 27.6 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.9 assists per contest and 9.6 rebounds per game for Denver. His field goal percentage is 58% for the year while his free throw percentage is 83%.

For expert handicapping advice on this matchup and other NBA games check out our handicapping tips.

Player Spotlight

Demarcus Cousins averages 26.9 points per game while playing 34.2 minutes per contest this year for the Pelicans. He grabs 11 rebounds per game and has 4.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage currently is at 77%. Anthony Davis averages 27.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 36.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 12 rebounds per contest and 2.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is 80%.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver averages 111.5 points per contest this season which ranks them 3rd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 0.08 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team which has them ranked 7th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 10th in the league. They average 46.2 rebounds per game and 25.2 assists per game which ranks them 2nd and 2nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 8th with 14.9 per game. The Nuggets allow 111.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 27th in the league. They also allow a 48% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the arc ranking them 29th and 29th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 40.5 rebounds a game which ranks 3rd and they give up 24.2 assists per contest which puts them in 28th place in the league. They force 12 turnovers per game which ranks them 1st in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans averages 104.1 points per game this year which ranks them 20th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -1.58 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team which has them sitting in the 22nd spot in the league. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 18th in the NBA. They average 44.2 rebounds per game and 22.7 assists per contest which ranks them 10th and 12th respectively. In the turnover department the Pelicans rank 25th with 13 per game. The Pelicans allow 105.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 15th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc ranking them 6th and 8th in those defensive statistics. Opponents average 48.2 rebounds a game which ranks 30th and they give up 23.1 assists per contest which puts them in 19th place in the league. The Pelicans force 13.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 13th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

The Nuggets have an offensive rating of 113.3 and a defensive rating of 113.2. In terms of pace they average 98 possessions per 48 minutes and their effective field goal percentage is 53%. As a team they have a true shooting percentage of 57% and they shoot 3 pointers on 33% of their shots. Denver turns the ball over an average of 13.2 times per 100 possessions and they force 11 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%.

Advanced Statistics

The Pelicans rating on offense is 105.1 and they have a defensive rating of 106.7. They get 97.9 possessions per 48 minutes and they have an effective field goal percentage of 50%. As a unit they have a true shooting percentage of 54% and they attempt 3 pointers on 31% of their shot attempts. New Orleans turns the ball over on 11.9 out of every 100 possessions and their opponents average 12.4 turnovers per 100 possessions. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the year is 51%.

Who will win tonight's Nuggets/Pelicans NBA game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take New Orleans +1

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