Nuggets vs Pelicans Prediction, Odds & Player Props

Sunday's eight-game NBA slate will tip off with a matchup between two of the top teams in the Western Conference, as Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans will host Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets this afternoon.

Entering today's action, both teams sit at 14-8 on the season and are tied for the second-best record in the Western Conference, one game behind the Phoenix Suns (15-7).

Denver will be looking to start a new run after seeing its four-game win streak come to an end on Friday in Atlanta, as the Hawks defeated the Nuggets 117-109 without Trae Young.

New Orleans, meanwhile, will be aiming to extend their own win streak to four after consecutive wins over the Thunder, Raptors, and Spurs over the last week.

Who will take the win at the Smoothie King Center? You'll find our Nuggets vs Pelicans prediction below, as well as our favorite player props for the matchup.

Denver Nuggets vs New Orleans Pelicans Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Denver Nuggets (14-8, 8-6 away, 2nd in the Western Conference) vs New Orleans Pelicans (14-8, 8-3 home, 3rd in the Western Conference)
• Venue & Location: Smoothie King Center (New Orleans, Louisiana)
• Date: Sunday, December 4, 2022
• Game Time: 3:30 pm ET (2:30 pm local time)

Nuggets vs Pelicans Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline as of Sunday, December 4, 2022, at 3:40 am ET. Odds from our other recommended online sportsbooks may also appear in this article.

Spread

• Denver Nuggets -0.5 (-110)
• New Orleans Pelicans +0.5 (-110)

Over/Under

• n/a

Moneyline

• Denver Nuggets -108
• New Orleans Pelicans -108

Will Zion's Hot Streak Continue?

On Friday, the Pelicans picked up their third straight win with a dominant second-half performance in San Antonio. After trailing by three at halftime, the Pelicans outscored the Spurs 68-47 in the second half to record a 117-99 win.

After closing out November with 33 points (a season high) and 10 rebounds in Wednesday's 126-108 win over Toronto, Zion Williamson led the way again against the Spurs. He was 9 of 14 from the field and 12 of 13 from the free-throw line and finished with 30 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists, a block, and two steals in the win.

It was his second 30-point performance in San Antonio in a little more than a week, following his 32-point, 11-rebound showing on November 23.

With how he has performed in the Pelicans' win streak, today looks like a good day to potentially target his combo props, especially since he has attempted 25 free throws in the last two games after attempting just one free throw in last Monday's win over Oklahoma City.

Last Three Games for Zion Williamson

• vs Oklahoma City Thunder: 23 points (11-18 FG, 0-1 3PT, 1-1 FT), eight rebounds, eight assists, three blocks, one steal
• vs Toronto Raptors: 33 points (12-15 FG, 9-12 FT), ten rebounds, five assists, two blocks, four steals
• at San Antonio Spurs: 30 points (9-14 FG, 0-2 3PT, 12-13 FT), 15 rebounds, eight assists, one block, two steals

Denver Nuggets vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction

Nuggets vs Pelicans Prediction: Nuggets to win

Friday's loss in Atlanta was pretty disappointing, considering that the Hawks were without Trae Young, and you always want to make the most of when a team is without its star player.

But Dejounte Murray went off for 34 points and rookie AJ Griffin tied his season and career high with 24 to lift Atlanta to the win, and no one scored more than 24 for Denver.

But if there is one positive to take from the result, it's that the Nuggets are 6-1 thus far this season in games following a loss, with the only loss coming at Dallas in a game in which both Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray didn't play.

Denver Nuggets vs New Orleans Pelicans Player Props

Nuggets vs Pelicans Player Prop Pick #1: Zion Williamson over 38.5 points + rebounds + assists (Best Value: -110 at BetMGM)

Nuggets vs Pelicans Player Prop Pick #2: Zion Williamson to record a double-double (Best Value: +210 at BetUS)

While I'm focusing on Zion's props here, I also like Jokic to score at least 25 points. He has had only one stretch this season in which he failed to score 25+ points in three or more games, and he comes into this game having scored 17 and 24 in his last two games.

You can grab him to go over 24.5 points for -105 at BetUS, which is pretty solid value.

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