The Indiana Pacers (15-11) challenge the Denver Nuggets (14-11) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The game can be seen on Altitude Sports & Entertainmnt at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 10, 2017.
The game’s Over/Under (O/U) opened at 219 points with Indiana set as a 6.5-point favorite.
Denver Nuggets at Indiana Pacers Betting Prediction
The last time the Nuggets played, they topped the Orlando Magic, 103-89. Denver’s 0.529 effective field goal percentage was their largest strength over Orlando, who had a rate of 0.428. The Nuggets’ mark was above their season average of 0.523, while the Magic’s was below their season average of 0.531. Denver was lifted by Kenneth Faried, who led the team in scoring with 20 points on 8-for-10 shooting.
The Pacers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in their last contest, 106-102. The Pacers had an offensive rebounding percentage of 25.5 (above their season average of 21.3) and had a turnover percentage of 7.7 (better than their season average of 12.6). Victor Oladipo was the game’s high scorer with 33 points on 11-for-24 shooting.
Indiana could have difficulty getting to the foul line in this matchup. The Pacers rank 25th in the league with a free throw attempt (FTA) rate of 0.175, while Denver ranks second in FTA rate allowed (0.163). Furthermore, the Nuggets are among the NBA’s elite on the offensive backboards, ranking first in offensive rebounding percentage (26.8 percent). The Pacers, meanwhile, rank 22nd at grabbing defensive rebounds with a defensive rebounding percentage of 76.5 percent.
Denver heads into the contest with records of 14-11 straight up (SU) and 10-15 against the spread (ATS). Nuggets games tend to finish under the total (56.0 percent).
Meanwhile, Indiana is 15-11 SU and 16-10 ATS. Vegas is highly precise when setting the O/U total of Pacers games, with an even split between overs and unders.
Will Barton and Gary Harris have played well over the last five games for Denver. Barton has averaged 20.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Not to be outdone, Harris has recorded 19.4 points, 3.6 assists and 2.4 steals a game during that span.
After the Nuggets won both contests against the Pacers last season, these teams will meet for the first time this year. In the last matchup, Denver won 125-117. Denver made good use of their 43 trips to the free throw line, converting on 40 of them (93.0 percent). Indiana, meanwhile, was 8-11 (72.7 percent).
Denver Nuggets vs. Indiana Pacers ATS Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Nuggets, ATS Winner – Nuggets, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes:
Denver is 3-10 ATS on the road with 7 unders and 6 overs.
Indiana is 8-5 ATS at home with 8 unders, 4 overs and 1 push.
Indiana is 7-0 when they allow less than 100 points, while Denver is 6-1.
In games where they reach the century mark, the Pacers are 13-5 and the Nuggets are 12-6.
Denver ranks third in points in the paint per game (48.9) while Indiana ranks 26th in points allowed in the paint per game (48.8).
The Pacers rank fourth in points off turnovers allowed per game (14.8) while the Nuggets rank 27th (19.8).
Denver averages 15.4 second chance points per game, which ranks first in the league. Indiana ranks 23rd in second chance points allowed per game (13.2).
The Pacers average 23.2 assists per game, which ranks eighth in the league. The Nuggets rank 24th in assists allowed per game (24.4).
Denver ranks 13th in blocks allowed per game (4.8) while Indiana ranks 26th (5.5).
The Pacers rank fifth in steals allowed per game (7.0) while the Nuggets rank 16th (8.2).
Indiana ranks fourth in fast break points per game (15.2) while Denver ranks 15th in fast break points allowed per game (11.4).
The Nuggets average 29.8 three pointers per game, which ranks 14th in the league. The Pacers rank 23rd in three pointers allowed per game (30.6).
Denver ranks ninth in rebounds per game (44.8) while Indiana ranks 17th in rebounds allowed per game (43.5).
Bettings Trends:
In their last five games, Denver is 2-3 ATS with 3 overs and 2 unders.
Indiana is 3-2 ATS with 3 unders, 1 over and 1 push over their last five games.
The Nuggets’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 0.8, up from 0.0 for the season.
During their last five games, the Pacers have scored an average of 106.2 points per game (2.1 below their season average) and allowed an average of 106.6 points per game (0.6 below their season average).
