Denver Nuggets at New Orleans Pelicans odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Friday’s Denver Nuggets at New Orleans Pelicans sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Denver Nuggets (30-14) visit the New Orleans Pelicans (17-28) Friday at 8 p.m. ET at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. We analyze the Nuggets-Pelicans odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.


Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.


Nuggets at Pelicans: Key injuries

Nuggets

  • PG Jamal Murray (ankle) out
  • SG Gary Harris (groin) questionable
  • PF Paul Millsap (knee) out
  • PF Mason Plumlee (foot) out
  • SF Michael Porter Jr. (back) questionable
  • Bol Bol (foot) out

Pelicans

  • SG JJ Redick (hamstring) probable
  • SG Josh Hart (ankle) probable
  • SF Darius Miller (Achilles) out
  • SF Kenrich Williams (back) out

Nuggets at Pelicans: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 9 a.m. ET.

Prediction

New Orleans 118, Denver 113

Moneyline (ML)

AVOID. Denver is 13-8 (minus-5.4 units) on the road. New Orleans is 8-14 (minus-7.4) at home. The lean is toward the Pelicans (-167), but there is better expected value on the spread. A New Orleans line closer to -160 would flip the equation.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on New Orleans to win returns a profit of $5.99.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The Nuggets are 9-10-2 ATS on the road. At home, the Pelicans are 12-10 ATS. Denver is 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 games against sub-.400 teams. New Orleans is 6-1-1 ATS over its last eight contests against winning teams. The Pelicans have won six in a row when coming off a straight-up loss. The banged-up Nuggets are playing their third straight abroad in this one. In two other road trips of three-plus games, Denver is 0-2 in game No. 3 (average against-the-spread loss is 17 points). With the injuries and with a schedule that has them playing a fourth game in six nights, some extra midseason fatigue can be expected.

New Orleans rookie F Zion Williamson scored 17 points in the fourth quarter of his minute-restricted NBA debut, a 121-117 loss to the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday. The Williamson-version Pelicans were improved on the defensive glass. New Orleans is a productive team in transition, and this game could provide better opportunities in that area. Denver is turning the ball over more frequently of late and has seen a downturn in its offensive rebounding numbers. Back NEW ORLEANS (-2.5, -125) to win by at least 3 points.

Over/Under (O/U)

Winning Overs dot the recent trends for both sides, but the public may be a bit slow in adjusting. There is some decent value on the upside of OVER 228.5 (-129) for this contest.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Pelicans at Nuggets odds: New Orleans big Christmas underdog in Denver

The NBA Christmas schedule has the Denver Nuggets hosting the New Orleans Pelicans in a Western Conference matchup.

The Denver Nuggets (21-8) host the New Orleans Pelicans (8-23) Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, which is the final game during the NBA’s Christmas five-game slate.

The Nuggets are second in the Western Conference, just 2.5 games behind the Los Angeles Lakers, who play the Los Angeles Clippers during Christmas day action. The Pelicans are struggling, ranking 14th in the West.

The game isn’t expected to be very close, as Denver is favored by 9.5 points over the Pelicans, with -110 odds on both sides of the NBA matchup. The Nuggets (-455) are heavy favorites, with a 81.98% chance of winning, per the oddsmakers at BetMGM, while New Orleans (+340) enter as the heavy underdog.


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New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Denver returns a $2.20 profit with an outright victory, while that same wager on the Pelicans profits $34.00 with a Christmas day upset.

The Nuggets are 7-3 over their last 10 games, while the Pelicans are 2-8.

More: NBA Christmas Schedule: Where and when to watch each game

BetMGM has the over/under set at 219.5 points as both squads try to elevate their play for a national Christmas day audience.

Want some action on any of these games? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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