So far, this season is going as planned for the Denver Nuggets. After a productive offseason, Denver is sitting at 6-2 and appears to be a stout contender in the West. Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers continue to struggle due to injuries following their incredible run in the Finals. At 1-7, the playoffs may be out of the question this year, even with how weak the East is. It makes for an interesting clash on Saturday night in the Mile High City.
The Nuggets are 10.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. They’re priced at -550 on the moneyline, while the Pacers are +410 underdogs. The total for this game is set at 235.5 points. Let’s get into my preview, prediction and pick for this Pacers vs. Nuggets game.
Pacers vs. Nuggets prediction, preview
Denver’s new additions are taking time to acclimate. Cam Johnson, often the first or second option in Brooklyn, has to adjust to life as a complementary piece in Denver. The bench group is still learning to play together. But when you have Nikola Jokic, things come easy. The Nuggets have the best offensive rating in the league so far, scoring 122.8 points per 100 possessions. That was on display last night as they dismantled the Warriors.
The Pacers find themselves on the opposite end of the spectrum. They have the second-worst offensive rating in the league so far. You could fill out an entire roster with the players they’re missing, especially in the backcourt.
It’s going to be a long season in the basketball heartland. We knew that already, with Tyrese Haliburton’s injury, but now they’re going to have a hard time clawing out of the lottery picture.
Pacers vs. Nuggets pick, best bet
Without their leading offensive creators, the Pacers will struggle to keep pace with the excellent Nuggets offense. Myles Turner’s absence has left a crater in the frontcourt, exposing them to Jokic, the NBA’s best post player. I don’t see any way how the Pacers can keep this from turning into another double-digit loss.
