Indiana vs Denver: the Nuggets to beat the defenseless opponent

Indiana has been uncompetitive this season, and they are no longer in contention at the end of the regular season. The next opponent for Rick Carlisle's team is Denver. Will the Pacers be able to surprise everyone by beating the Nuggets? Let's pick a few options to bet on at once.

For the Pacers, this season is turning out to be one of transition. Under Rick Carlisle's leadership, the team has no room for Domantas Sabonis, who left Indiana. The Pacers' biggest stars now are Buddy Hield and Tyrese Haliburton. The new Indiana will be evaluated next season.

The current championship is virtually over for the Pacers. They're coming into the game with Denver 13th in the East standings with a 25-51 balance. The team has long since lost even their hypothetical chance of making it into the top 10 of the conference.

The Nuggets are sixth in the West, but Michael Maloney's team has yet to retain their position in the top-6. Denver is 45-31, and the seventh team, Minnesota, has a 43-31 balance. Two handicap wins is a rebounding margin.

Denver handled Charlotte 113-109 on the road last game. Another triple-double went to Nikola Jokic with 26 points, 19 rebounds and 11 assists. Significantly, even with such a phenomenal performance by their leader, the Nuggets had difficulty beating a team that was far from the league's top scorer.

• Indiana: Isaiah Jackson, Chris Duarte, T.J. McConnell, Ricky Rubio, Myles Turner, T.J. Warren will not play. Malcolm Brogdon is questionable;
• Denver: Zeke Nnaji, Michael Porter, Vlatko Cancar will not play. Jalen Green is questionable.

In the first game of the season series, Denver defeated Indiana 101-98 at home.

Last season, the Nuggets beat the Pacers twice.

Denver has no way to find a balance. Nikola Jokic's phenomenal performance does not yet mean the team's success. Whether the Nuggets will be able to figure it out in the end is the question. In the upcoming game, however, it's unlikely their own gambling woes will prevent them from winning. Indiana, already losing consistently over the course of the championship, has been falling apart altogether lately. Much of this has to do with the injury to Myles Turner, whose absence leaves the Pacers with literally no defense.

Prediction: Denver will win in a high-scoring match.

Betting options:

• W2+TO (233.5) for 2.20;
• H2 (-9.5) for 1.90;
• H2 (-9.5) + TO 233.5 for 3.50.

TelecomAsia Sport is looking for basketball tipsters. Contact jobs@telecomasia.net for more information.