Nuggets vs. Pacers Prediction, Picks for Tuesday, Jan. 23
Here's everything you need to know about Nuggets vs. Pacers on Tuesday, Jan. 23 — our expert prediction and betting picks for today.
The Nuggets haven't been known for their play on the road, but after a couple of wins in recent games — including one in Boston — Denver has a chance to send a message to the rest of the league in a meeting with the Pacers in Indiana Tuesday night.
Will the Pacers' recent run of form turn around in their favor, or will they once again find themselves in trouble against one of the best teams in the West?
Let's get to our Nuggets vs. Pacers prediction and pick.
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Nuggets vs. Pacers Prediction
Pick: Nuggets -4.5 (-110)
Nuggets Betting Outlook
The Nuggets are just 13-10 straight up and 8-15 against the spread on the road, but things seem to be turning around for the Western Conference's No. 3 team.
Denver enters tonight's game with a world of hope, given its recent play and Indiana's mounting injuries. The fifth-best offensive team in the NBA over the last 10 games, the Nuggets will do battle with a squad ranked 20th on the defensive end during the same period in time.
The Nuggets have been hell-bent on scoring inside, taking 35.6% of their shots within four feet of the rim to rank fourth in the NBA, and they really should feast against a Pacers team ranked 16th in rim defense this season. Defensively, they're in a very similar spot with the Pacers' affinity for scoring down low, running into a Denver team that has done its best work defending inside the perimeter.
There have been some big names featured on the injury report of late for the Nuggets, but the good news is that Aaron Gordon (shoulder) and Michael Porter, Jr. (illness) are both listed as probable.
Pacers Betting Outlook
With Tyrese Haliburton out of the lineup due to a hamstring injury over the last couple of weeks, Indiana's production has dropped off significantly. The Pacers have lost four of five with a sputtering offense that has mustered just 112.1 points per game to rank 20th in the NBA.
Haliburton's status is the biggest thing to watch. He's currently listed as questionable as the Pacers try to manage his return from injury. On top of that, Andrew Nembhard — who has been getting minutes at guard without Haliburton — is also listed as questionable with a spine issue.
This is going to put a lot of pressure on a Pacers backcourt that has struggled to defend the 3-point line and is knocking down 39.1% of looks from outside — the fourth-best mark in the NBA, according to Cleaning the Glass.
Nuggets vs. Pacers Picks, Odds
| Nuggets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
-5 -110 | 238.5 =110 / -110 | -198 |
| Pacers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
+5 -110 | 238.5 -110 / -110 | +164 |
With the Pacers' backcourt in question, this one has all the makings of a perilous spot for Indiana. If there's one place to beat the Nuggets, it's from 3-point range, and if Haliburton can't go or is something less than 100%, there will be a slim chance of that. Indiana's frontcourt has also done a lot of the heavy lifting, in particular of late without Hailburton, and it will run into one of the very best defenses in the NBA inside of four feet.
Indiana has done a ton of great work this season, but it's clear that things are off at the moment, particularly without a number of rotation players and Haliburton.
It's been hard to trust the Nuggets on the road this year, but with their play improving away from Denver and in a positive matchup tonight, this number is too low.
Pick: Nuggets -4.5 (-110 at BetMGM)
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