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Free Pick: Denver vs. Indiana NBA Lines & Handicapping Preview

NBA Betting? Nuggets vs. Pacers Predictions

Early season NBA betting action sees the Denver Nuggets taking on the Indiana Pacers on Friday, Nov. 13 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Cappers Picks provides free NBA handicapping tips all season long.

NBA Picks

Denver Nuggets (1-6) vs. Indiana Pacers (3-6) 
Friday, Nov. 14
7:00 p.m. ET
Bankers Life Fieldhouse
TV: NBATV
NBA Betting Lines: Pacers -3
NBA Betting Total:  197
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Denver

The Denver Nuggets have not had the early-season start they were hoping for. Following a year that saw them underachieve thanks to injuries, the hope was that a healthy roster would be all it took to officially turn things around.

As it turns out, that simply hasn’t been the case.

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The bad news is that Denver is just 1-6 this season and is coming off two blowout losses, both against the Portland Trail Blazers. The good news is that players such as Nate Robinson and Danilo Gallinari no longer have minute restrictions, as they’re both returning from season-ending ACL injuries in 2013-14.

Defense has been a problem for this team in the past, and that theme holds true again this season.

The team is 29th in point allowed, as it’s giving up 111.1 points per game.

The bigger problem is that offense has also been difficult to come by at times. The team is 14th in the league in points per game (101.1), but against the Pacers’ defense, getting to triple digits could be a task easier said than done.

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Indiana

The Pacers may be without Paul George (and Lance Stephenson), but the team isn’t slacking on defense. Indiana is third in points per game allowed, giving up just 92.4 points per contest.

Conversely, you’ve got this team struggling on offense, which should be a surprise to no one.

With George and Stephenson missing from the lineup, the team is posting just 91.7 points per contest, and their struggles are made even worse with guys such as David West and George Hill having yet to play a game.

Against Denver, the goal will be to slow down the tempo.

Denver runs the second-fastest pace in the NBA, and wouldn’t you know it, Indiana runs the second-slowest.

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NBA Handicapping Trends:

  • Pacers are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
  • Pacers are 10-26-1 ATS in their last 37 games as a favorite.
  • Pacers are 8-18 ATS in their last 26 home games.
  • Pacers are 9-23 ATS in their last 32 games following a S.U. win.
  • Nuggets are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
  • Nuggets are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games vs. a team with a losing S.U. record.
  • Nuggets are 15-6 ATS in their last 21 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game.

4* NBA Prediction: Denver +3

Picking the Nuggets is dangerous these days, but they’re in desperate need of a win. They’ve lost five straight, and they have an opportunity to get that win against a vulnerable Indiana team that just might have a bit of a hangover following its win against the Miami Heat on national television.

Look for head coach Brian Shaw to force the tempo is this one. If the team can’t get out and run, we’re likely looking at Indy coming away with a victory.

But if Shaw can instill a sense of urgency — the sense of urgency — that this team needs, it will do wonders for a team that needs something to go right with fewer minute restrictions on key players in the rotation.

Check out our Updated NBA Betting Odds.

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