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New Orleans (0-3) at Denver (2-1)
- When: Oct 29 2025, 9:00 PM
- Where: Ball Arena, Denver, CO, USA
- TV: ALT
New Orleans vs Denver Preview & Prediction
Spread: Denver -13.0
Moneyline: Denver (-750)
Total: 236.5
New Orleans Pelicans Outlook
The Pelicans are 0-for-everything to start the season, and the hits just keep coming — literally. After dropping both home games, New Orleans now heads to Denver unsure if Zion Williamson will even suit up. Zion missed Monday’s blowout loss to Boston with a left foot issue, a problem that’s starting to feel like an annual subscription service.
Without him, New Orleans’ offense collapsed like a poorly built Jenga tower. Jordan Poole did his best, leading the team with 22 points, but no one else could break 12. Coach Willie Green didn’t mince words afterward, calling his team’s effort “embarrassing” — and honestly, he had a point. The Pelicans looked flat, uninspired, and allergic to defense.
If Zion sits again, the scoring load falls to Poole, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum — three guys who can shoot you into or out of a game in equal measure. The key will be keeping this one close early, which sounds great in theory until Jokic starts turning the fourth quarter into a personal passing clinic.
Denver Nuggets Outlook
Denver enters this matchup feeling good after finally ending their losing streak to Minnesota. The defending champs looked sharp in a statement win led by Jamal Murray’s 43-point explosion and yet another triple-double from Nikola Jokic, who’s averaging video-game numbers — 20 points, 15 boards, and nearly 12 assists per game.
The Nuggets’ bench, which was a sore spot last year, is now a strength. Tim Hardaway Jr. dropped 20 off the bench Monday, while Peyton Watson added 12, giving Denver a much-needed scoring boost when the starters rest. The only hiccup is Cam Johnson’s shoulder injury, which could shuffle the lineup slightly, but this team has enough firepower to compensate.
Coach David Adelman’s squad is clicking early, dominating the paint, spacing the floor, and making teams regret showing up. At home, Denver’s altitude advantage and relentless pace often bury teams before halftime — and against a shorthanded New Orleans squad, that could happen fast.
Prediction
The Pelicans’ bad luck continues, and Denver’s offensive machine keeps rolling. Even if Zion suits up, it’s hard to see New Orleans keeping pace with the Nuggets’ firepower and chemistry. Expect Denver to flex early and never look back.
Final Score: Nuggets 125, Pelicans 106
Lean: Denver -13.0
Total: Under 236.5
- NBA Basketball Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
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