Nuggets vs Pacers (11/9/22): Prediction, Starting Lineups, Odds
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The Denver Nuggets visit the Indiana Pacers after beating the Spurs on a second night of a back-to-back. The Pacers are also coming into this game on the second night of a back-to-back, after also winning, but against the Pelicans. This should be an interesting matchup in Indiana because of all that. You can look at the starting lineups and injuries for each team below. Let’s take a look at the odds and make some picks and predictions for this game!
Denver Nuggets vs. Indiana Pacers Betting Odds
The Denver Nuggets are 5.5-point road favorites against the Indiana Pacers, and are also at -230 on the money line. The over/under is also set at 235.5. Denver being favored here makes sense because they’ve been more impressive across the board than Indiana, even though the Pacers have been better than people originally thought. The over/under also makes sense because both of these teams can score very well. The odds will probably not move that much between now and game time too.
Denver Nuggets vs. Indiana Pacers Prediction
The Pick: Indiana Pacers +5.5
Both of these teams are going to show fatigue in this game because they are both coming off the second leg of a back-to-back. That definitely factors into me thinking this is going to be a close game in favor of the Pacers. The Pacers also have been surprising to many this year thanks to the backcourt duo of Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin. Haliburton was acquired from the Kings in a trade that also sent Buddy Hield to Indiana too. Mathurin, on the other hand, was drafted in this past year’s NBA Draft and has so far looked good enough to contend for Rookie of the Year.
The matchup between Jamal Murray and Tyrese Haliburton will be critical in this game. The Nuggets are coming off winning three straight before this game too. The big test for Indiana is going to be how they defend Nikola Jokic. Myles Turner has been a very good center, but Jokic is just different, and that will most likely be the deciding factor here. The Pacers are good enough to keep this game close, especially, situationally, but expect the Nuggets to still win because Jokic is just that good.
Betting Trends
- Nuggets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
- Pacers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Nuggets vs Pacers Key Matchups
Who can get the upper-hand in the matchup between Haliburton and Murray? Can Myles Turner slow down Nikola Jokic?
Tyrese Haliburton vs. Jamal Murray
Surprisingly these two have very similar stats when comparing each other. Murray only averages more points than Haliburton, while Haliburton has more rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks a game. Murray is also a better free throw shooter, but Haliburton is a better three-point shooter, and better from the field overall. Murray has the ability to score in bunches, even after coming off a terrible injury that kept him out for so long. Haliburton is emerging this year as a bona fide young star for the Pacers, and there’s a real possibility he has the ability to shut down Jamal Murray in this spot as a bigger point guard. This matchup is the closest in this game and will have a huge hand in what ends up happening in this game.
Nikola Jokic vs. Myles Turner
Nikola Jokic is the two-time reigning MVP of the NBA, so defenses need to key in on him whenever a team plays the Nuggets. The Pacers will throw Turner at Jokic most of the night and see what happens. Jokic averages more points, rebounds, assists, and steals a game, while Turner has him beat with blocks. To be honest, these two aren’t comparable with accolades, but instead Turner is the Jokic stopper in this game. With him have an upper-hand in blocks, that’s a big key in this low post matchup. If Turner can win some of the one-on-ones between him and Jokic then the Pacers chances of winning go exponentially up.
Denver Nuggets Starting Lineup
PG: Jamal Murray
SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
SF: Michael Porter Jr.
PF: Aaron Gordon
C: Nikola Jokic
Indiana Pacers Starting Lineups
PG: Tyrese Haliburton
SG: Bennedict Mathurin
SF: Buddy Hield
PF: Jalen Smith
C: Myles Turner
Nuggets vs Pacers Key Injuries
Denver Nuggets Injuries: PF Zeke Nnaji (Ankle) D, PG Ish Smith (Calf) D
Indiana Pacers Injuries: SG Chris Duarte (Ankle) O, SF Aaron Nesmith (Foot) O