Nuggets vs Pelicans predictions 1/24/20 NBA Picks & Betting Tips

Game: Denver Nuggets vs New Orleans Pelicans

Date: Friday, January 24, 2020

Location: Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA

TV: Fox Sports New Orleans

Odds/Point Spread: New Orleans -2

Total/Over-Under: 230

Smoothie King Center is the venue where Lonzo Ball and the New Orleans Pelicans (17-28, 5th in the Southwest Division) will take on the Denver Nuggets (30-14, 2nd in the Northwest Division) on Friday. New Orleans opens this game as 2 point favorites. The over/under is set at 230.

The Nuggets cover the spread 45.0% of the time, having gone 18-22-4 ATS. New Orleans is covering 51.2% of the time, going 22-21-2 against the spread.

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

01/23/20 SG Gary Harris Abdominal is questionable Friday vs New Orleans
01/22/20 PF Paul Millsap Knee is out indefinitely
01/22/20 PF Mason Plumlee Foot is OUT 2-4 weeks
01/16/20 SG Jamal Murray Ankle is out indefinitely

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Nikola Jokic comes into this contest averaging 19.4 points per game while playing 31.6 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 10.0 rebounds per game and dishes out 6.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 51% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 78%. Will Barton averages 15.0 points per game in 33.6 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.8 assists per contest and 6.6 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 76%.

Player Spotlight

Lonzo Ball averages 12.1 points per game while playing 31.1 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.8 rebounds per game and has 6.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 39% and his free throw percentage is at 54%. Brandon Ingram averages 25.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 34.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.6 rebounds per contest and 4.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver averages 109.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 20th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 3.3 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 11th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 22nd in the league. They average 44.7 rebounds per game and 26.2 assists per game, which ranks them 19th and 4th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 25th with 13.3 per game. The Nuggets allow 106.0 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 6th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 14th and 3rd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.6 rebounds a game which ranks 7th and they give up 24.6 assists per contest, which puts them in 19th place in the league. They force 14.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 13th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans is 6th in the league with 114.5 points per game this year. They are 17th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -3.2. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 5th in the NBA. They are 13th in the league in rebounding with 45.8 boards per game, and 10th in assists per contest with 25.5. The Pelicans are 6th in turnovers per game with 15.6. The Pelicans surrender 117.7 points per contest, which ranks them 29th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 22nd and 22nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 17th with 24.4 assists allowed per contest and 17th with 45.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Pelicans are 15th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.5 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Nuggets are 10th in the NBA in offensive rating with 111.4, and their defensive rating of 108.1 is ranked 12th. In terms of pace they are 29th in the league with 97.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 20th. As a team they are 20th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 27th in the league. Denver is 25th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 18th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

New Orleans is 10th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 9th in the NBA. The Pelicans are 18th in the league in defensive rating with 112.9, and their offensive rating of 109.8 is ranked 27th. They are 5th in the NBA in pace with 103.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 9th. As a unit they are 17th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shot attempts, ranking 5th in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take New Orleans -2

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