New Orleans Pelicans vs Denver Nuggets Picks and Predictions for Saturday, October 24, 2026

New Orleans let a good chance slip away in its opener, while Denver struggled in Oklahoma City. The New Orleans Pelicans visit the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on Saturday, with tipoff at 9:00 pm ET on NBA League Pass. Both are 0-1. New Orleans is tied for third in the Southwest Division after losing 123-120 to Indiana, while Denver is tied for fourth in the Northwest following a 96-84 loss to the Thunder. The Pelicans also play at Utah on Friday, making Saturday the second night of a road back-to-back. Find more matchups in our free NBA picks.

New Orleans Had Indiana on the Ropes

The Pelicans had reason to feel good at halftime Wednesday. They had turned a seven-point first-quarter deficit into a 66-56 lead, with Zion Williamson closing the half by hitting two three-pointers. New Orleans was still ahead 101-93 in the fourth before Indiana made its move. The Pacers ripped off a 15-3 run, and New Orleans couldn't recover. Losing 123-120 after leading that late is frustrating, but scoring 120 against Indiana wasn't the problem. The Pelicans collected 49 rebounds and six blocks, yet allowed 123 points.

Dejounte Murray scored a team-high 23 points and also handed out seven assists. Williamson was right behind with 22 points and added three steals. Yves Missi gave New Orleans a strong presence near the rim, grabbing 14 rebounds to lead the team and scoring 13 points. Missi and Murray also shared the blocks lead with three apiece. Derik Queen collected 10 rebounds from the bench. There was plenty to like about the individual performances, but the Pelicans need to defend better when opponents start making a run.

Injuries: No injuries were listed for New Orleans.

Denver Nuggets Could Not Find Their Shot

Denver's first game Thursday turned into a rough night for its shooters. The Nuggets led Oklahoma City by as many as nine, but the Thunder took over in the second half and won 96-84. Denver made just 31 of 82 shots, including eight of 30 from deep. It also committed 22 turnovers, giving Oklahoma City opportunities to pull away. The Nuggets grabbed 53 rebounds and blocked two shots, while holding the Thunder to 96 points. That defense was good enough to win; the problem was scoring only 84.

Aaron Gordon led Denver with 20 points, hitting three of four three-point attempts. Nikola Jokic finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and a team-high five assists, but he shot 5-for-19. DeMar DeRozan added 13 off the bench. Trevon Brazile grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Nuggets, while Gordon and Jokic shared the blocks lead with one each. Jamal Murray scored six points on 2-for-11 shooting. Denver has several proven scoring options, but Thursday showed what happens when too many struggle at once.

Injuries: Spencer Jones is questionable with a hamstring injury, Cameron Johnson is questionable with an ankle injury, and Julian Strawther is out with a knee injury.

Key To The Game

New Orleans scored 120 in its opener, while Denver managed only 84. The Nuggets need to cut down on turnovers and make their outside shots. New Orleans must avoid another late defensive collapse, especially when Jokic starts finding cutters.

New Orleans Pelicans vs Denver Nuggets Game Pick

• Denver Nuggets

Denver's shooting was poor against Oklahoma City, but that doesn't erase the Nuggets' ability to create good chances through Jokic. Gordon was productive, and the team collected 53 rebounds despite the loss. New Orleans showed scoring talent against Indiana, though it couldn't protect a fourth-quarter lead. Denver should get more from Jamal Murray and its other shooters at home. The Nuggets will bounce back and win on Saturday.

New Orleans Pelicans vs Denver Nuggets Over/Under Pick

• Over

The two openers looked very different. New Orleans scored 120 points and allowed 123, while Denver finished with only 84 and held Oklahoma City to 96. The Nuggets missed plenty of open opportunities and committed 22 turnovers, both areas that could improve. New Orleans has several players who can score near the basket. With better shooting from Denver and enough offense from the Pelicans, the over is the pick here.