Fact checked at 9:21 AM ET, Nov 14, 2026Odds as of 7:27 AM ET, Nov 14, 2026
The Nuggets (6-4) close a four-game road trip against the Pelicans (4-9) at 7:00 PM ET in New Orleans. Denver has had two days off since a 123-118 win in Memphis. New Orleans is on the second night of a back-to-back after a 142-111 home loss to Memphis last night, its fifth straight loss.
Those losses have not been close. The Pelicans lost their last four by 16, 51, 34 and 31 points and gave up 139, 138, 145 and 142. Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray, Yves Missi, Bryce McGowens and Trendon Watford all sat last night, and the club said the same day that Murray has asked to be traded. Zion Williamson played 33 minutes, but he rested on the second night of New Orleans's last back-to-back. New Orleans had not filed its injury report for tonight on the latest league report. Denver lists only Julian Strawther (left knee sprain) and three G League players as out.
Denver should control this one. Both picks need the same night: a comfortable margin, with the Nuggets' bench doing its usual work.
Nuggets vs. Pelicans Predictions
Pick #1DeMar DeRozan Over 4.5 Rebounds + Assists−116
DeRozan has gone over this number in 7 of his 9 games this season, including both against New Orleans (6 and 7, in 24 and 26 minutes). His two misses were a 2 at Oklahoma City in the opener and a 1 against Portland.
He has been Denver's sixth man since opening night, and coach David Adelman kept him in that job even when Cameron Johnson and three reserves were hurt. He has played 19 to 22 minutes in each of his last four games and isn't on Denver's injury report. Because he comes off the bench, a lopsided score doesn't cost him the minutes it would cost a starter.
Opponents have passed the Pelicans apart lately, too, with 34, 37, 30 and 36 assists in the last four games.
At -116 the book is asking for 53.7%. What beats it is a night like the Portland game, when he had one assist and no rebounds in 20 minutes. At that workload there isn't much room.
Pick #2Nuggets -12.5−105
This is a big number for a road team. Denver has won by 13 or more only twice in ten games, and it beat New Orleans by 6 in overtime and by 13 in the first two meetings.
The other side is the reason to lay it. The Pelicans' last four losses came by an average of 33 points, and tonight is their second game in two nights, after Murphy and Murray sat out the first, against a Denver team on two days' rest. The last time New Orleans played the back end of a back-to-back, it sat Williamson and lost 138-87 at Golden State. It allows 125.6 points a game, 29th in the league.
Denver's starting five of Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Johnson, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic has started each of its last five games together. That group was not intact for the 13-point win in New Orleans, when Johnson sat and Murray (23 points) and Jokic (21 points, 13 rebounds) carried it.
The -105 price implies 51.2%. A New Orleans injury report that brings players back would hurt, and so would a big lead that Denver's reserves give back late.
21+ (18+ where permitted). Odds subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
