Pelicans vs. Nuggets: NBA odds, Picks and Predictions
Pelicans vs. Nuggets Odds
| Pelicans Odds | +6.5 |
| Nuggets Odds | -6.5 |
| Over/Under | 231 |
| Date | Tue, Jan. 31 |
| Time | 10:00 p.m. |
| TV | TNT |
Tuesday’s NBA action will conclude with a matchup between the New Orleans Pelicans and Denver Nuggets on TNT at Ball Arena. Entering play, New Orleans (26-25) has lost eight consecutive games and has fallen to the 8-seed in the Western Conference, 8.5 games behind Denver (34-16) for the top spot in the standings. This evening, oddsmakers are expecting a Nuggets victory, pricing Denver as 6.5-point home favorites on the spread.
New Orleans Pelicans
Williamson OUT
Tonight, Zion Williamson will miss his 15th consecutive contest. Prior to him suffering a hamstring injury at the beginning of January, the Pelicans were 23-14 and looked like one of the best teams in the league. In his absence, New Orleans is 3-11 and ranks 26th out of 30 teams in Net Rating.
Per Cleaning the Glass, the Pelicans rank in the 83rd percentile in offensive efficiency and the 86th percentile in defensive efficiency with Williamson on the floor this season, compared to the 28th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 50th percentile in defensive efficiency when he is on the sidelines.
Who will step up for New Orleans?
Per CourtIQ, C.J. McCollum (+3.3%) sees the largest increase in usage with Williamson off of the court. In these situations, McCollum is averaging 24.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per 36 minutes of action. During the month of January, McCollum is averaging 24.9 points on 19.8 field goal attempts per game. Expect him to be heavily involved in the offense once again on Tuesday.
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Denver Nuggets
Advantage in the altitude
Entering play tonight, Denver owns the second-best home record in the Western Conference this season, at 22-4. In 26 home games, the Nuggets are outscoring their opponents by 10.8 points per 100 possessions – ranking in the top-six in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
However, it is worth noting that Denver is playing their first home game back in the altitude since January 22 tonight. Having two days since their most recent contest will help off-set this issue slightly, but it is worth noting that all players have an adjustment period after being in much lower altitude.
Jokic making MVP case
Despite losing to Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers this past Saturday, there is little doubt that Nikola Jokic is firmly entrenched in the conversation for league MVP. Jokic is averaging 25.1 points per game this season, and ranks in the top-six in the association in rebounding, assists, and field goal percentage.
Playing at home this year, Jokic is comfortably averaging a triple-double – posting a line of 25.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 11.0 assists per game in 23 contests. Facing a short-handed New Orleans team tonight, expect him to fill-up the stat sheet once again.
Pelicans vs. Nuggets – Picks & Predictions
Simply, this is a matchup between one of the NBA’s best home teams against one of the league’s worst road teams. Denver is 22-4 in their home building this year, and New Orleans is 9-16 when playing on the road. The Pelicans will continue to be without Zion Williamson, who is arguably their most important player. Expect the Nuggets to win comfortably this evening.
PICK: Nuggets -6.5 (-110, DraftKings)
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