New Orleans Pelicans vs Denver Nuggets Prediction: Short-handed Pels take on fiery Nuggets

NBA is on and we have already seen some interesting trades being pulled off. One of them has been Rui Hachimura being exchanged for Kendrick Nunn. As we head deeper, even bigger trades will be revealed and this is one of the most interesting periods in the league. At any rate, in this game, the New Orleans Pelicans will take on the Denver Nuggets.

The Pelicans come into this game after blowing a lead and losing 96:100 against the Miami Heat despite a great scoring balance. The team has now lost four in a row and not having Zion Williamson has hurt their project. Without Zion Williamson, they have now lost seven of their last ten games. Things could have been better had Brandon Ingram could play, who has only played 15 games thus far this season. Jonas Valanciunas and CJ McCollum have fought hard but right now, the Pels look too thin. Zion may return before February and that is why a record of 26 wins and 21 losses gives a bit of breathing space.

The Nuggets enter the affair after losing 99:101 against the Oklahoma City Thunder because of a game-winner hit by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The loss broke a nine-game winning streak, however, they remain at the top of the Western Conference, and are building sustainable distance from the rest of the stack. Unlike last season, they have found their depth thanks to the return of Jamal Muray and Michael Porter Jr. The additions of Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have bettered things too while Aaron Gordon has been huge. Basically, Nikola Jokic has the help he needed last season.

The Nuggets’ offense is one of the best and for a month now, their defense has taken another level, which has brought them to the top of the rankings. It means that the unreliable Pelicans offense can be in big trouble despite the team playing at home. The home-court advantage matters and even sub-par units can turn it around there but I just don’t see it happening against Denver despite Porter Jr. and Jokic being questionable here. I predict a scoreline of 122:108 in favor of Denver.