New Orleans Pelicans vs. Denver Nuggets - 12/25/19 NBA Picks, Odds, and Prediction

Game: New Orleans Pelicans vs Denver Nuggets

Date: Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Location: Pepsi Center in Denver, CO

TV: ESPN

Odds/Point Spread: Denver -8.5

Total/Over-Under: 219.5

Pepsi Center is the venue where Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets (21-8, 1st in the Northwest Division) will play the New Orleans Pelicans (8-23, 5th in the Southwest Division) on Wednesday. The spread on this contest has Denver as 8.5 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 219.5.

The Pelicans cover the spread 36.7% of the time, having gone 11-19-1 ATS. Denver is covering 46.2% of the time, going 12-14-3 against the spread.

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

12/18/2019 Zion Williamson SF Knee Expected to be out until at least Jan 8
8/29/2019 Darius Miller SF Achilles Expected to be out until at least Apr 1

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Jrue Holiday comes into this contest averaging 19.7 points per game while playing 36.1 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 5.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 6.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 43% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 68%. Brandon Ingram averages 25.0 points per game in 33.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.8 assists per contest and 7.1 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 84%.

Player Spotlight

Nikola Jokic averages 17.4 points per game while playing 31.3 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 10.0 rebounds per game and has 6.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is at 82%. Jamal Murray averages 17.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.0 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.3 rebounds per contest and 4.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 90%.

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans averages 111.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 14th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -6.2 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 23rd. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 8th in the league. They average 45.4 rebounds per game and 24.7 assists per game, which ranks them 16th and 13th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 8th with 15.9 per game. The Pelicans allow 117.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 28th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 22nd and 20th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 46.6 rebounds a game which ranks 25th and they give up 24.8 assists per contest, which puts them in 21st place in the league. They force 15.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 15th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver is 22nd in the league with 107.8 points per game this year. They are 15th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 5.7. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 12th in the NBA. They are 12th in the league in rebounding with 45.8 boards per game, and 4th in assists per contest with 26.7. The Nuggets are 24th in turnovers per game with 14.1. The Nuggets surrender 102.1 points per contest, which ranks them 1st in the NBA. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 9th and 1st in those defensive statistics. They rank 11th with 23.5 assists allowed per contest and 8th with 43.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Nuggets are 11th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.6 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Pelicans are 23rd in the league in defensive rating with 112.8, and their offensive rating of 106.9 is ranked 24th. They are 5th in the NBA in pace with 103.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 18th. As a unit they are 22nd in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shot attempts, ranking 5th in the NBA. New Orleans is 14th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 9th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Denver is 22nd in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 26th in the league. The Nuggets are 14th in the NBA in offensive rating with 109.6, and their defensive rating of 103.8 is ranked 2nd. In terms of pace they are 29th in the league with 97.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 20th. As a team they are 23rd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 27th in the league.

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

Guy's Pick: Take New Orleans +8.5

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