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Pacers vs. Nuggets Odds, Picks, Predictions: Can Jokic Continue Dominant Play?

Philip Wood

Last Updated: January 20, 2023 5:30 AM EST • 2 min 28 sec read.

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets looks for a foul call against the Golden State Warriors.
Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets looks for a foul call against the Golden State Warriors. Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images via AFP.

Two teams heading in opposite directions meet Friday night with the home team favored by double digits. Here are our Pacers-Nuggets NBA picks based on the best NBA odds.

Dating back to Jan. 11, the Pacers have lost five games in a row. Their last three losses were by at least 13 points. Though the Pacers have not been playing well of late, they did manage to keep it close against the Nuggets in November, losing 122-119.

The Nuggets have won eight games in a row and 15 consecutive home contests. NBA MVP favorite Nikola Jokic has recorded a triple-double in three consecutive games.

Meanwhile, though he showed up on the injury report ahead of Friday’s game, Jamal Murray is probable to take the court for tip-off.

Here is our best Pacers vs. Nuggets NBA pick (odds via FanDuel Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale.

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Pacers vs. Nuggets Game Info

Date: Friday, Jan. 20, 9:00 p.m. ET
TV: Local
Location: Ball Arena, Denver, CO

Pacers vs. Nuggets Odds

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Pacers vs. Nuggets Odds Analysis

At Caesars, the Nuggets opened as just 9.5-point favorites. Since then, the line has swelled to 11.5, which is what many major sportsbooks have at the moment. However, FanDuel, DraftKings Sportsbook, and PointsBet are all offering this line at -11. Because of how large the spread is, 52% of bettors are backing the Pacers to cover.

The total opened at 240.5, and it ranges from 239.5 to 240 at nearly every major sportsbook, with 54% of bettors backing the under.

Pacers vs. Nuggets Pick

Nikola Jokic Under 47.5 points + rebounds + assists vs. Pacers (-111 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Taking any Jokic Under may feel counterintuitive, especially following back-to-back 30-point games. However, Jokic has scored 30 in three consecutive games only once this season, and that was during a stretch of games in which the Nuggets needed every single point they could get from him.

That won’t be the case on Friday night, as the Nuggets could pull out to a huge lead early and put the Pacers away before halftime. After all, the Nuggets are the best 3-point shooting team in the NBA, while the Pacers are third-worst at defending beyond the arc.

The Nuggets have shown their willingness to reduce Jokic’s playing time when they lead by a significant margin. He played just 28 minutes against the Phoenix Suns and 24 against the Los Angeles Clippers. Additionally, when these two teams met earlier this season, Jokic played a season-low 21 minutes, while putting together a 24-point, four-rebound, six-assist line.

The Nuggets to cover could be a solid bet, but with a number this large, there is always the chance for a late run that gives the Pacers enough to lose but still cash against the spread. Therefore, go against your instincts, and take Jokic at a number that is simply too high.

Pacers vs. Nuggets Best Odds

FanDuel (-111)

DraftKingsFanDuelBetMGMCaesarsPointsBet
47.548.5N/A47.548.5
-115-111-119-115

FanDuel has made this an easy decision. It's offering this line at 48.5 rather than 47.5, and it's also somehow offering the best price for the Under. PointsBet also has the number listed at 48.5, but it has the price as -115. Both DraftKings and Caesars have this number at 47.5, and they are favoring the Under.

It is likely that FanDuel will drop this line by one before tip-off, just because the other sportsbooks are showing no signs of increasing their totals. Therefore, get in before it’s too late, and gladly take the better number for the better price.

Pacers vs. Nuggets pick made 01/20/2023 at 8:05 a.m. ET.

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Written By:
Philip Wood
Phil is a Sports Betting Analyst for Sportsbook Review and BettingPros.com, specializing in NFL and college football. He previously covered college football and college basketball for CanesInsight.com, where he also hosted the College Football Pick 'Em podcast. Phil is always looking for value, especially on lines that just seem too good to be true. His belief is if a line doesn't make sense, just assume that Vegas knows something you don't. An alumnus of The U, Phil always holds out hope that the next head coach will be the one who turns the football program around. Some would call him a frontrunner for his love of the Yankees and the Celtics, but he's also a diehard Detroit Lions fan and will never forgive the refs for the blown pass interference call against the Cowboys in 2015.