New Orleans Pelicans at Denver Nuggets NBA Picks & Predictions 10/29/2018

Monday, October 29, 2018

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 Monday, October 29, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Denver as 2 point favorites.

The Pelicans have a regular season record of 4-1. They are 1st in the Southwest Division. They have a point differential of 5.4 as they average 124.8 points per game while giving up 119.4 per contest. The Nuggets have an overall mark of 4-1. They currently are 1st in the Northwest Division. They total 113.2 points per contest and give up 104.0, which is a point differential of 9.2.

Valuable New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 3-2-0 against the spread

The New Orleans Pelicans are 3-1-0 against the over/under

Important Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 4-1-0 against the spread

The Denver Nuggets are 2-3-0 against the over/under

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

10/28/18 F Anthony Davis Elbow is questionable Monday vs Denver
10/28/18 PG Elfrid Payton Ankle injured last game, is questionable Monday vs Denver
10/27/18 SF Darius Miller Quad is questionable Monday vs Denver
10/11/18 C Alexis Ajinca Knee is out indefinitely

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

10/22/18 G Will Barton Hip is out indefinitely
10/11/18 G Isaiah Thomas Hip is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Nikola Mirotic comes into this contest averaging 23.8 points per game while playing 28.4 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 9.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 54% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 70%. Anthony Davis averages 27.3 points per game in 36.0 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.8 assists per contest and 13.3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 52% for the year while his free throw percentage is 71%.

Player Spotlight

Gary Harris averages 19.4 points per game while playing 33.4 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.4 rebounds per game and has 3.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is at 79%. Nikola Jokic averages 23.4 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 10.6 rebounds per contest and 6.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 59% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans averages 124.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 1st in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 5.4 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 6th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 12th in the league. They average 48.0 rebounds per game and 27.6 assists per game, which ranks them 8th and 2nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 25th with 12.6 per game. The Pelicans allow 119.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 27th in the league. They also allow a 48% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 20th and 20th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 44.0 rebounds a game which ranks 11th and they give up 24.2 assists per contest, which puts them in 16th place in the league. They force 14.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 17th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver is 12th in the league with 113.2 points per game this year. They are 12th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 9.2. They shoot 29% from 3-point range, which is good for 29th in the NBA. They are 7th in the league in rebounding with 50.0 boards per game, and 12th in assists per contest with 24.4. The Nuggets are 17th in turnovers per game with 13.4. The Nuggets surrender 104.0 points per contest, which ranks them 5th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 45% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 13th and 4th in those defensive statistics. They rank 12th with 23.8 assists allowed per contest and 4th with 41.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Nuggets are 24th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.6 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Pelicans are 2nd in the NBA in offensive rating with 117.9, and their defensive rating of 112.8 is ranked 19th. In terms of pace they are 2nd in the league with 105.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 9th. As a team they are 11th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shots, ranking 26th in the league. New Orleans is 28th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 10.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 10th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Denver is 19th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 19th in the NBA. The Nuggets are 10th in the league in defensive rating with 103, and their offensive rating of 112.1 is ranked 3rd. They are 16th in the NBA in pace with 101 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 19th. As a unit they are 17th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shot attempts, ranking 24th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Denver -2

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