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Nuggets Seek First Win vs. Pelicans at Home
25 Oct
Summary
- Nuggets host Pelicans seeking their first win of the season.
- Pelicans face a difficult back-to-back at elevation.
- Injuries impact both teams, but New Orleans is more affected.
The Denver Nuggets will host the New Orleans Pelicans tonight at Ball Arena in a matchup between two Western Conference teams yet to secure a win this season. For the Pelicans, playing a back-to-back game at Denver's elevation is a particularly tough challenge, further compounded by existing injury concerns and unfavorable underlying metrics.
The Nuggets are looking to bounce back after an opening road loss and are expected to cover a significant spread against the Pelicans. New Orleans has lost twice by close margins to teams that struggled last season, indicating potential difficulties against stronger opponents. Denver's league-best offense is anticipated to find its rhythm against the Pelicans.
Both teams are dealing with injuries. The Nuggets are without Cam Johnson and Spencer Jones, impacting their outside shooting and overall depth. New Orleans has also been hit, with Yves Missi suffering a knee injury, which weakens their inside game beyond Zion Williamson.
Despite the Nuggets' own injury issues and a potentially slower pace affecting the total points, the Pelicans' struggles and injury woes make them susceptible. Predictions point to a convincing Denver victory, with prop bets suggesting Zion Williamson might grab fewer than 5.5 rebounds and DeMar DeRozan scoring over 14.5 points.
