The Indiana Pacers (23-23, 8-14 Away) will try to slow down the NBA’s top shooting team when they head to face the Denver Nuggets (32-13, 21-3 Home) on Friday. Indiana was outplayed by the Oklahoma City Thunder 126-106 at Paycom Center on Wednesday, their fifth loss in a row.
With 18 points and seven assists, Andrew Nembhard was a top performer in defeat. The Pacers are ninth in the Eastern Conference. Denver won their eighth in a row on Wednesday at Ball Arena, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 122-118. Nikola Jokic had a triple double with 31 points, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds, carrying the team.
The Nuggets are 0.5 games ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies atop the Western Conference, currently sitting in first. This marks the final meeting of the season between the teams.
After winning the only prior season meeting against Indiana 122-119 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in November 2022, their fifth straight head-to-head victory, Denver will be aiming for a season sweep.
Bennedict Mathurin led both teams in scoring with 30 points in the loss. Jokic had 24 points for the Nuggets, while Aaron Gordon played a key role with 18 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists. The Pacers have been led this season by Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield, who are averaging 20.2 and 17.6 points per game, respectively.
Haliburton also has dished 10.2 assists per game, most in the league. Meanwhile, Myles Turner is grabbing 7.8 rebounds per game. Jokic’s 25.1 points per game have powered the Nuggets on offense. Jokic has also averaged 11.0 rebounds and 9.9 assists per game, for which he ranks fifth and second in the NBA, respectively.
Shooting 51.0% from the field, the Nuggets are the league’s most accurate field goal shooting team. The Pacers have not found much success at Ball Arena in recent seasons, losing nine of the last 10 games. Indiana is looking to reverse a five-game road losing streak this season. Denver has won 15 straight at home this season.
In the last 10 games, Indiana is 4-6 with an average margin of -3.9 (116.4-120.3). Denver has gone 9-1 over the last 10, scoring 120.3 points per game on average while holding opponents to 109.0 (+11.3 margin).
PACERS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
T.J. McConnell: 29.4 | 13.9 | +15.5
Points per game:
Tyrese Haliburton: 15.0 | 20.2 | -5.2
Rebounds per game:
Myles Turner: 5.5 | 7.8 | -2.3
Assists per game:
T.J. McConnell: 8.0 | 4.6 | +3.4
Tyrese Haliburton: 7.0 | 10.2 | -3.2
NUGGETS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points per game:
Bones Hyland: 9.2 | 12.8 | -3.6
Rebounds per game:
Aaron Gordon: 4.6 | 6.8 | -2.1
SportsTips’ NBA Pick:
Denver Nuggets -8.5 (-115)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
