New Orleans Pelicans vs Denver Nuggets Betting Pick & Prediction 2/5/25

The New Orleans Pelicans are 10.5-point underdogs against the Denver Nuggets in a Western Conference matchup. The over/under line for the game is 238.5 points. The Pelicans have lost six straight games and are 14th in the Western Conference, while the Nuggets have won three in a row and are fourth in the West.

This game will be played at Ball Arena in Denver and is scheduled to tip off at 9:00 ET. The Nuggets are -515 on the moneyline, while the Pelicans are +385. ALT will have the TV coverage.

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS VS DENVER NUGGETS BETTING PICK

The Pick: New Orleans Pelicans +10.5

This game will be played at Ball Arena at 9:00 ET on Wednesday, February 5th.

WHY BET THE NEW ORLEANS PELICANS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 118-110 in favor of the Pelicans.
• Our projections have Zion Williamson finishing with 24 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
• From the field, we have the Pelicans finishing with a field goal percentage of 45.7% and knocking down 13 threes.

Is a Win at Denver Possible for the Pelicans?

The Pelicans dropped to 12-38 on the season after a 125-113 road loss to the Nuggets on Monday. New Orleans entered the game as +9.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 238, just under the 242-point line.

Denver took control early with a 12-0 run, extending the score from 12-9 to 21-12. New Orleans fell behind 68-50 by halftime but fought back in the 3rd quarter, outscoring the Nuggets 35-25. However, they couldn’t complete the comeback, as Denver pulled away in the 4th quarter, outscoring the Pelicans 32-28.

In the Pelicans’ loss to the Nuggets, Trey Murphy III was on fire, hitting 8 threes at a 66.7% clip and finishing with 41 points. He scored 24 of those in the 3rd quarter. CJ McCollum added 30 points, with 17 coming in the 4th, and he connected on 5 threes at 55.6%.

The Pelicans made 18 threes as a team, shooting 47.4% from deep, though their overall FG% was just 43.2%. Zion Williamson struggled, shooting 38.5% and finishing with 14 points, 7 of which came in the final quarter.

The Pelicans struggled defensively on Monday, giving up 125 points to the Nuggets. New Orleans allowed 33 points in the 1st quarter and 35 in the 2nd, though they tightened up in the 3rd, holding Denver to 25 points. The Nuggets scored 32 points in the 4th to seal the win.

Overall, the Pelicans allowed Denver to shoot 50% from the field, including 36% from three-point range, with the Nuggets hitting 12 threes. The Pelicans sent the Nuggets to the line 26 times, where they made 21 free throws. New Orleans gave up 14 offensive rebounds while recording 5 steals and 4 blocks.

Is a Home Win Possible for the Nuggets?

With a 125-113 win over the Pelicans on Monday, the Nuggets improved to 31-19 for the season. Denver was favored by 9.5 points and covered the spread, while the game’s total of 238 points fell just short of the 242-point O/U line.

A key 12-0 run early in the game helped the Nuggets take control, moving the score from 12-9 to 21-12. Denver built on this momentum, outscoring New Orleans 33-23 in the 1st quarter and 35-27 in the 2nd. After the Pelicans rallied in the 3rd, winning the quarter 35-25, Denver closed out the game by outscoring them 32-28 in the 4th.

Michael Porter Jr. led the Nuggets to a 125-113 win over the Pelicans, hitting 7 threes at 58.3% and finishing with 36 points and 7 rebounds. Nikola Jokic contributed 27 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists, shooting 69.2% from the field, while Jamal Murray added 20 points despite shooting 41.2%.

Porter scored 11 points in the 1st quarter and added 10 more in the 4th. Jokic also had 11 points in the opening period and scored 12 in the 3rd. Julian Strawther chipped in 9 of his 15 points in the final quarter.

Defensively, the Nuggets gave up 113 points to the Pelicans but still managed to secure the win. They allowed 23 points in the 1st quarter, 27 in the 2nd, and 28 in the 4th. However, the 3rd quarter was a struggle, with Denver giving up 35 points.

The Pelicans shot 43% from the field, including 47% from three-point range, where they hit 18 threes. New Orleans also went 19/22 from the free-throw line. The Nuggets gave up 14 offensive rebounds but recorded 7 steals and 6 blocks.