The league’s top scoring defense will be 7.5-point underdogs on the road at Pepsi Center, when the Indiana Pacers (44-25) square off with the Denver Nuggets (45-22). The game’s Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 215 points and it will air on Altitude Sports & Entertainmnt at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 16, 2019.
Indiana Pacers at Denver Nuggets Betting Odds
In the Pacers’ last contest, they covered the 1-point spread against the Oklahoma City Thunder, 108-106. The Nuggets, on the other hand, topped the Dallas Mavericks,100-99, but failed to cover as 11-point favorites. The Indiana game went 3.5 points under the projected point total of 217.5, while the Denver game went 22.5 points under the projected point total of 221.5.
The Pacers knocked down 27 of their 32 free throws (84.4 percent), while the Thunder had a turnover percentage of 15.2 (above their season average of 11.6). The Nuggets, meanwhile, knocked down 14 of their 17 free throws (82.4 percent) and had a better effective field goal percentage (0.531 vs. 0.494). Paul Millsap had a good game for Denver, finishing with 33 points and eight rebounds. Meanwhile, Indiana rallied around Domantas Sabonis, who contributed 26 points and seven rebounds.
This was a highly contested series last year, as the teams split their two games last season. In the last matchup, the Nuggets won 107-104. Denver won the rebounding battle. The Nuggets had more offensive rebounds (13 vs. six), defensive rebounds (36 vs. 29) and total rebounds (49 vs. 35). This is the first time these teams will go head-to-head this year.
Of the Pacers’ 69 games, 41 have finished under the total. Indiana heads into the game with records of 44-25 straight up (SU) and 34-34-1 against the spread (ATS).
Much like Indiana, Nuggets games also tend to finish under the total (55.2 percent). Moreover, Denver is 45-22 SU and 36-31 ATS.
The game should be a matchup of strength against strength as the high-octane offense of Denver takes on the top-notch defense of Indiana. The Nuggets rank fourth in offensive efficiency, while the Pacers are third in defensive efficiency.
Indiana Pacers at Denver Nuggets Free Pick
Pick: SU Winner – Nuggets, ATS Winner – Pacers, O/U – Under
Betting Notes:
- The Pacers rank 18th in blocks per game (5.1) while the Nuggets rank 25th (4.5).
- Denver ranks fourth in points in the paint per game (53.0) while Indiana ranks 19th (48.3).
- The Pacers average 8.9 steals per game, which ranks third in the league. The Nuggets rank 14th in steals allowed per game (7.6).
- Denver ranks 16th in three pointers attempted per game (31.3) while Indiana ranks 27th (25.6).
- Indiana ranks eighth in assists per game (26.0) while Denver ranks 19th in assists allowed per game (24.8).
- The Pacers rank third in points off turnovers per game (19.5) while the Nuggets rank 18th (16.1).
- The Nuggets rank fifth in fast break points allowed per game (12.0) while the Pacers rank 16th (13.9).
- Denver ranks first in rebounds allowed per game (41.8) while Indiana ranks sixth (43.5).
- Denver ranks first in second chance points per game (15.6) while Indiana ranks 16th (13.2).
- In games where they hold opponents below 100 points, Indiana is 23-3 and Denver is 21-1.
- The Pacers are 39-13 when they score over 100 points, while the Nuggets are 43-17.
- Denver is 23-12 ATS at home, while Indiana is 13-19-1 ATS on the road.
- The total has gone over in 17 of the Pacers’ 33 road games, while 18 of the Nuggets’ 35 home games have gone over.
Bettings Trends:
- The Nuggets are 3-2 ATS over their last five games, while the Pacers are 2-3.
- In their last five games, Denver has 4 unders and 1 over, while Indiana has 5 unders.
- During their last five games, the Nuggets have scored an average of 111.2 points per game (0.9 below their season average) and allowed an average of 106.2 points per game (0.9 below their season average).
- The Pacers have been outscored by an average of 4.0 points in their last five games. For the season, Indiana has defeated opponents by an average of 4.3 points.
