Denver Nuggets vs New Orleans Pelicans Expert NBA Picks 10/31/2019

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Smoothie King Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

Smoothie King Center is the venue where Brandon Ingram and the New Orleans Pelicans (0-4, 5th in the Southwest Division) will take on the Denver Nuggets (3-1, 3rd in the Northwest Division) on Thursday. The odds on this contest have Denver as 4.5 point favorites. The total has been set at 224.

The Nuggets cover the spread 50.0% of the time, having gone 2-2-0 ATS. New Orleans is covering 25.0% of the time, going 1-3-0 against the spread.

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

10/29/2019 Derrick Favors PF Knee Game Time Decision
10/29/2019 Jrue Holiday PG Knee Game Time Decision
10/21/2019 Zion Williamson SF Knee Expected to be out until at least Dec 9
8/29/2019 Darius Miller SF Achilles Expected to be out until at least Apr 1

Player Spotlight

Jamal Murray comes into this game averaging 18.8 points per contest while playing 34.8 minutes per night this year. He grabs 5.5 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.3 assists per game. His FG percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is 86%. Nikola Jokic averages 15.5 points per contest in 31.5 minutes per game. He averages 6.5 assists per game and 12.5 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 79%.

Player Spotlight

Brandon Ingram scores 27.3 points per contest while playing 34.0 minutes per game. He hauls in 9.5 rebounds per contest and has 4.8 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is at 73%. Josh Hart averages 16.5 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 29.8 minutes per game. He also brings in 6.5 rebounds per game and has 0.8 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 93%.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver averages 105.8 points per contest, which is 20th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 3.3 and their shooting percentage is 41% as a unit, which has them ranked 25th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 11th in the NBA. They average 48.5 boards per contest and 22.0 assists per game, which ranks them 11th and 20th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 24th with 14.3 per game. The Nuggets allow 102.5 points per contest, which is 6th in the NBA. They also surrender a 42% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 8th and 7th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 48.0 rebounds a game which ranks 20th, and they allow 23.0 assists per game which puts them in 13th place in the league. They force 15.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 9th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans is 5th in the NBA with 121.0 points per contest this season. They are 13th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -7.25. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 8th in the league. They are 19th in the NBA in rebounding with 46.0 boards per contest and 1st in assists per game with 30.8. The Pelicans are 14th in turnovers per contest with 16.3. The Pelicans give up 128.3 points per game, which ranks them 30th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 46% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 21st and 16th in those defensive statistics. They rank 29th with 27.5 dimes allowed per game and 28th with 53.0 boards surrendered per contest. The Pelicans are 14th in the league in forcing turnovers with 16.3 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Nuggets are 13th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.2, and their defensive rating of 103.9 is ranked 13th. In terms of pace they are 30th in the league with 96.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 48% is 24th. As a team they are 23rd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 22nd in the league. Denver is 22nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 23rd in the league.

Advanced Statistics

New Orleans is 19th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 11th in the NBA. The Pelicans are 6th in the league in defensive rating with 116.4, and their offensive rating of 109.8 is ranked 29th. They are 6th in the NBA in pace with 107.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 6th. As a unit they are 13th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 45% of their shot attempts, ranking 4th in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Denver -4.5

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