The Denver Nuggets and New Orleans Pelicans collide at Smoothie King Center as both clubs play their first game of the NBA Cup.
Nikola Jokic has been a two-way force for the Nuggets early on, averaging nearly 30 points and 14 boards per game to help Denver ride into tonight’s contest on a five-game winning streak.
I’ll explain why I’m expecting Joker to notch another high-scoring, high-rebounding performance in my Nuggets vs. Pelicans predictions and NBA picks for Friday, November 15 below.
Nuggets vs Pelicans prediction
My best bet
Nikola Jokic Over 42.5 points + rebounds (-115 at bet365)
My analysis
It should come as no surprise that Nikola Jokic is putting up preposterous numbers once again, but the three-time MVP is currently outpacing his otherworldly totals from last season. Joker enters Friday averaging 29.7 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 11.7 assists per game — that's right, he’s averaging a triple-double per game.
Jokic has actually bagged four straight triple-doubles while averaging 29.5 points and 15.8 rebounds per game over that span, and I’ll look for his two-way dominance to continue with Over 42.5 points + rebounds against the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Pelicans come into this matchup on a six-game skid, and that’s no surprise when you look at their injury list. Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, and Jordan Hawkins are just three of the players sidelined for New Orleans and that’s hurt the team on both ends of the court.
New Orleans ranked eighth in points against per game last season but has tumbled all the way down to 22nd (115.7) this year. A big reason for that has been defensive rebounding, which has also dipped from 10th in 2023-24 (33.6 per game) to 29th in 2024-25 (29.7 per game).
Williamson led the team in rebounds both last season and this season until being sidelined earlier this month, so his absence will be Joker’s gain on the glass as well as the scoreboard.
Nuggets vs Pelicans same-game parlay
Nikola Jokic Over 42.5 points + rebounds
Nuggets -5.5
Over 218.5
The Nuggets opened as a 7-point favorite at bet365, with the clubs trending in opposite directions, but Denver has had some defensive flaws of its own this season, ranking 25th in points against per game (118). That’s led to the Nuggets eking out five of their seven wins by five points or fewer, but I suspect this one will be different.
Denver has also seen the total hit at least 230 in eight straight games, so there’s a lot of wiggle room on that end. I’ve gone pretty conservative in my SGP, but I don’t hate juicing up the total.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Nuggets vs Pelicans odds
Nuggets vs Pelicans live odds
Nuggets vs Pelicans opening odds
- Spread: Denver -8.5 | New Orleans +8.5
- Moneyline: Denver -425 | New Orleans +325
- Over/Under: Over 225.5 | Under 225.5
Odds courtesy of bet365.
Nuggets vs Pelicans spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Nuggets are 4-1-1 ATS in their last six games, while the Pelicans are 0-6 ATS in their last six outings.
- The Over is 8-0 in Denver’s last eight games and 6-4 in New Orleans’ last 10 contests. The Over is also 5-1 in the Pelicans’ last six home games.
- Denver is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings, with 81% of bettors taking the visitors on the moneyline.
Nuggets vs Pelicans trend
The Nuggets have cashed the third-quarter moneyline in 16 of their last 23 games for +9.39 units and a 27% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Pelicans.
How to watch Nuggets vs Pelicans
| Location: | Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA |
| Date: | Friday, 11-15-2024 |
| Tip-off: | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | GCSEN, Altitude |
Nuggets vs Pelicans latest injuries
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