New Orleans Pelicans at Denver Nuggets NBA Picks & Predictions 12/15/2017

Friday, December 15, 2017

Pepsi Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The New Orleans Pelicans travel to Pepsi Center to play the Denver Nuggets on Friday, December 15, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Denver as 1 point favorites.

The Pelicans come into this game with an overall record of 15-14. They are 3rd in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of -0.7 as they are averaging 110.8 points per game while giving up 111.5 per contest. The Nuggets have an overall record of 15-13. They currently are 2nd in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 107.5 points per game and surrendering 107.4, good for a point differential of 0.1.

Valuable New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 17-12-0 against the spread

The New Orleans Pelicans are 18-11-0 against the over/under

Important Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 11-16-1 against the spread

The Denver Nuggets are 13-15-0 against the over/under

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

12/12/17 G Tony Allen Knee is out indefinitely
10/20/17 C Alexis Ajinca Knee is out indefinitely
10/14/17 F Solomon Hill Hamstring is out indefinitely

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

12/13/17 G Will Barton Back is "?" Friday vs New Orleans
11/21/17 F Paul Millsap Wrist is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Jrue Holiday averages 17.9 points per game in 36.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 5.6 assists per contest and 4.3 rebounds per game for New Orleans. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 82%. Demarcus Cousins comes into this contest averaging 26.1 points per game while playing 35.6 minutes per night so far this season for the Pelicans. He pulls down 12.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is currently at 74%.

Player Spotlight

Gary Harris averages 15.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 33.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 3 rebounds per contest and 3.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 80%. Will Barton averages 15.6 points per game while playing 31.4 minutes per contest this year for the Nuggets. He grabs 5.3 rebounds per game and has 3.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage currently is at 71%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Pelicans allow 111.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 29th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 22nd and 20th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.4 rebounds a game which ranks 17th, and they give up 24 assists per contest which puts them in 21st place in the league. They force 14.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 13th in the league. New Orleans averages 110.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 4th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -0.69 and their shooting percentage is 49% as a team, which has them ranked 2nd. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 6th in the league. They average 43.1 rebounds per game and 26.7 assists per game, which ranks them 16th and 2nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 3rd with 16.4 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Nuggets surrender 107.4 points per contest, which ranks them 23rd in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 48% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 29th and 29th in those defensive statistics. They rank 25th with 24.3 assists allowed per contest, and 6th with 41.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Nuggets are 22nd in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.7 per game this season. Denver is 9th in the league with 107.5 points per game this year. They are 11th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 0.14. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 12th in the NBA. They are 7th in the league in rebounding with 45 boards per game and 7th in assists per contest with 23.2. The Nuggets are 7th in turnovers per game with 15.8.

Advanced Statistics

The Pelicans are 8th in the league in defensive rating with 110.5, and their offensive rating of 109.8 is ranked 3rd. They are 6th in the NBA in pace with 100.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 4th. As a unit they are 4th in the league in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 11th in the NBA. New Orleans is 3rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 8th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Denver is 8th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 55%, which is 2nd in the NBA. The Nuggets are 6th in the league in defensive rating with 109.9, and their offensive rating of 110.1 is ranked 9th. They are 13th in the NBA in pace with 97.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 9th. As a unit they are 10th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 12th in the NBA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take New Orleans +1

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