Denver Nuggets vs New Orleans Pelicans

Denver has played seven home games but only three road contests. They head out on the road after a five-game homestand. The defense is 26th in points given up and 20th in field goal shooting allowed (47.2%). The Nuggets are on an 8-12-1 ATS run. Brandon Ingram (22.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 5.1 apg) has stepped up for banged-up New Orleans. They come off of a loss to Oklahoma City though they won the rebounding battle 58-31. The offense is 11th from the charity stripe (78.3%). Play New Orleans. 

The Denver Nuggets opened the sason by winning their first nine home games. Going back to the begiining of last season that built their home record to an incredible 53-8 SU. That run has quieted down considerably as since that 9-0 run at home they have been just 6-4 SU in their last 10 home games, and that is half the losses they suffered in their previous 61 games at home. New Orleans has been knocking on the door the past couple of years and is finally mostly healthy. The Pelicans have opened the season at 23-15. They have played great on the road where they have won seven straight games. They are catching the Nuggets at a vulnerable time, and playing their best basketball on the road right now, perhaps in franchise history. I like New Orleans on the money line.

The New Orleans arena will be rocking with the defending champs in town. Denver makes a long road trip and while they're 7-0 at home, the Nuggets are just 2-2 straight up on the road. They've lost their last two road games at Minnesota (110-89) and Houston (107-104) despite being favored. For this game, second-leading scorer Jamal Murray (16.3 ppg) is battling a hamstring injury and might not play. Denver is 123-166 ATS on the road after having won three of four. New Orleans is at home for the third straight game working on two days of rest after a 131-110 win over Dallas as a +4.5 underdog. The Pelicans are 19-8 ATS at home after failing to cover four or five of their last six. When they last met on this court, Denver won 99-98 and expect a big effort by the home team with the champs in town. Play New Orleans.