The Denver Nuggets, leaders of the Northwest Division, will host the Indiana Pacers on Friday in cross-conference action. The Nuggets have lost just one game since New Year’s, while the Pacers are on an 0-5 slide heading into the weekend.
Let’s check the latest NBA news, stats, injury report and NBA lines for Pacers vs Nuggets. We’ve got plenty of NBA picks for you to consider.
Pacers on 0-5 Cold Snap
The Pacers may have a .500 record at 23-23, but things have been much kinder on the betting side with a 26-20 record against the spread (ATS). That may not sound too impressive, but it’s good enough for the 5th best record in the NBA and a return on investment of 7.91%. With a return of 4.00 units, the Pacers are one of the most profitable teams to wager on in the league.
Despite their ATS record, the Pacers’ 22nd-ranked defense will struggle tonight against one of the most dynamic offenses in the Western Conference. Indiana has issues down low and doesn’t score or rebound efficiently in the paint. Meanwhile, the Nuggets are a top-five team regarding points in the paint.
The Pacers are getting healthy but will still be without three key players on Friday, with Tyrese Haliburton, Kendall Brown, and Daniel Theis out. The good news is the latter two are close to returning, but it won’t happen before tipoff.
Nuggets 9-1 in January
Since the ball dropped and ended 2022, the Denver Nuggets have been the hottest team in the Western Conference, with a 9-1 record in their previous ten games. With wins over title contenders such as the Celtics, Suns, and Heat in that span, it’s safe to say the Nuggets are on a roll.
The ATS numbers are also mostly positive, with a 3-2 record in their previous five games. With the spread at 11 in favor of Denver, it’s nice to see the Nuggets covered a 14.5 spread recently against the Phoenix Suns and beat the Lakers by 13 on consecutive nights.
Injuries continue to be an issue for the Nuggets, with Jeff Green, Collin Gillespie, and Peyton Watson all scheduled to miss Friday’s game. Guard Jamal Murray is probable but won’t be at 100% with a foot injury.
Pacers vs Nuggets Game Injuries
Pacers vs Nuggets Head-to-Head
Friday will be the second game of the season between the Pacers and Nuggets after Denver beat Indiana 122-119 in November. The Pacers covered but lost their fifth straight game against the Nuggets. Indiana hasn’t beaten Denver since 2020 but is on a 2-0 AST winning streak.
Pacers vs Nuggets Game Information
- Game: Pacers (23-23) vs Nuggets (32-13)
- Location: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
- Day/Time: Thursday, Jan. 20, 9:00 p.m. ET
- Pacers vs Nuggets Live Stream: NBA Game Pass
Pacers vs Nuggets Betting Lines
Pacers vs Nuggets Picks & Prediction
The Pacers are on an 0-3 ATS losing streak and are 1-5 in their previous six games. Meanwhile, the Nuggets are surging, and we are willing to bet they will keep the momentum going on Friday and blow the doors off Indiana.
Denver is listed at -600 in our Vegas NBA lines. If you wager $100 on the Nuggets, you can win $17. Indiana is +450, offering a chance to win $450 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Denver an 85.71% chance to win, with the Pacers at 18.18%.
Pacers vs Nuggets Trends
Pacers vs Nuggets Edge
Pacers vs Nuggets Results
Pacers vs Nuggets Game Summary
Nuggets vs Pacers Previous Game (Nov. 09, 2023)
The Indiana Pacers will face the Denver Nuggets at home Wednesday, and both teams are coming off of impressive wins. The Pacers finally got Myles Turner going. He scored 37 points after averaging 13.8, beating the New Orleans Pelicans 129-122.
The Nuggets are on a three-game win streak, two coming against the San Antonio Spurs, winning their last game 115-109, as the team’s stars start to shine.
This game will feature two of the better offenses in the NBA, as the Pacers are fifth in points per game, and the Nuggets are eighth. Each team is finding success through offensive-style players who are working together.
However, the Nuggets should win this game because they have a slightly better defense, ranked 17th, compared to the Pacers, who allow the third most points per game in the NBA. The Nuggets also have the advantage of Nikola Jokić and a surrounding cast of quality players, while the Pacers have young talent, but not nearly that much.
