NBA Prop Bets: New Orleans Pelicans vs Denver Nuggets (October 28, 2026)
The Denver Nuggets (1-2) face the New Orleans Pelicans (0-3) at Smoothie King Center. Let's take a look at the NBA Prop Bets for Wednesday's matchup. The Nuggets opened as 4.5-point favorites but the spread has since moved to 5.5, leaving the Nuggets at -205 and Pelicans at +170. The total points line is set at 239.5, with OVER at -115 and UNDER at -105, meaning the implied expected score for the game is 122-117 Denver.
- The Pelicans (-115) have a 44-36-5 ATS record since the beginning of last season, while the Nuggets (-105) hold a record of 46-45-0 across the same span.
- The Pelicans have a 43-42-0 O/U record since the beginning of last season (meaning 43 games have gone over the total points line and 42 have gone under). The Nuggets have a 55-35-1 O/U record.
Scoring Insights
- The Pelicans have scored 115.8 points per game since the beginning of last season (14th in the league). Comparatively, the Nuggets have averaged +5.9 more at 121.8 points over the same span (1st).
- Defensively, the Pelicans have allowed a whopping 120.3 points per game since the beginning of last season (26th in the league), while the Nuggets have given up an average of 117.1 points over that span (21st).
Game Style
What do the stats tell us about the style of basketball these teams have played since the beginning of last season?
Pace
- The Pelicans rank 11th for pace since the beginning of last season, recording 100.4 possessions per game. Alternatively, the Nuggets sit 22nd on that scale with 98.3 possessions per contest.
Field Goal Split
- Looking at field goal splits, 35.5% of the Pelicans' field goal attempts have come from three point range since the beginning of last season (26th in the league), leaving 64.5% from two. Meanwhile, the Nuggets' opponents are taking 43.0% of their attempts from three (25th) and 57.0% from two.
- Comparatively, Denver has taken 40.7% of shots from three (20th), leaving 59.3% from two, while New Orleans' opponents have attempted 44.1% from three (29th) and 55.9% from two.
Beyond the Arc
- In terms of made three-pointers, the Pelicans have shot an underwhelming 34.6% from deep since the beginning of last season (24th in the NBA), compared to the Nuggets who are making 39.3% of their attempts (1st).
- On the opposite end, New Orleans has held opponents to 35.0% of their three-point attempts (6th), while Denver's opponents have hit 34.9% of their shots (4th).
Ball Protection
- The Pelicans are committing 14.2 turnovers per game since the beginning of last season, ranking 11th in the league, while the Nuggets have forced 11.9 turnovers (30th) across the same period.
- Flipping that script, New Orleans has forced 14.5 turnovers (17th), while Denver has committed 13.0 (3rd).
Crashing the Boards
- New Orleans is pulling down 43.9 rebounds per game since the beginning of last season (15th in the league), including 12.2 offensive boards (8th). Conversely, Denver's opponents are averaging 43.0 rebounds (10th), 11.4 of which have come on the offensive end (14th).
- Meanwhile, the Nuggets have averaged 44.0 rebounds (14th) and 9.9 offensive rebounds (25th), while the Pelicans are allowing 45.8 and 12.7, ranking 24th and 28th.
First Quarter Winner
Here are their first quarter records since the beginning of last season.
| Total | Home | Road | Favorite | Underdog | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | 33-49-3 | 16-25-1 | 17-24-2 | 10-7-0 | 23-42-3 |
| Denver | 56-33-2 | 31-15-0 | 25-18-2 | 42-22-1 | 14-11-1 |
First Half Winner
Here are their first half records since the beginning of last season.
| Total | Home | Road | Favorite | Underdog | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | 35-48-2 | 20-20-2 | 15-28-0 | 12-5-0 | 23-43-2 |
| Denver | 48-36-7 | 27-16-3 | 21-20-4 | 37-23-5 | 11-13-2 |
HT/FT
- The Pelicans have completed the HT/FT double in 20.0% of games since the beginning of last season, while the Nuggets have completed the HT/FT double in 39.6% of games.
To Go To Overtime
- The Pelicans have played in six games that went to overtime since the beginning of last season, while the Nuggets have appeared in 10.
Both Teams 110+
- Both teams have scored 110+ points in 48 of New Orleans' 85 games since the beginning of last season. Meanwhile, 57 of Denver's 91 games have seen both squads reach that number.
Last Time They Met
Denver recorded a 141-135 overtime victory over New Orleans at Ball Arena when these teams last met on October 24. Nikola Jokic was everywhere on that day, finishing with a 35-point, 15-rebound, 10-assist triple-double. The Nuggets have now won seven straight against the Pelicans.
NBA Injury News – Denver Nuggets @ New Orleans Pelicans (October 28, 2026)
Johnson is listed as Doubtful for Wednesday's (Oct. 28) game against the Pelicans.
The Nuggets reported on Friday (Oct. 16) that Strawther will be OUT for six weeks due to a knee injury.
Jones is listed as Out for Wednesday's (Oct. 28) game against the Pelicans.
Diallo is listed as Out for Wednesday's (Oct. 28) game against the Pelicans.
The Pelicans listed Poole as Probable for Wednesday's (Oct. 28) game against Denver.
The Pelicans listed Missi as OUT for Wednesday's (Oct. 28) game against Denver.
