Pelicans Getting Points at Home After Denver Survives Wild Shootout

Four days ago these teams combined for 276 points in Denver, blowing past the total and giving us all a headache. Now the Nuggets roll into New Orleans on short rest, and suddenly we're supposed to believe they'll keep that offensive magic going? Not buying it.

Denver's road woes are real – they're 0-1 away from home and managed a pitiful 84 points per game in those contests. Meanwhile, the Pelicans have been sitting pretty with four days of rest, plenty of time to stew over that six-point loss and figure out how to slow down a Nuggets attack that's averaging 101 possessions per game. New Orleans wants to run (108.8 pace), and tired legs don't chase in transition.

The market sees this as essentially a pick'em, but the situational dynamics scream Pelicans. You've got a rested home team that just hung 135 on Denver getting nearly a full bucket? That's disrespectful. The Nuggets are dragging themselves through the early-season grind while New Orleans is fresh and motivated after proving they can score with anybody.

DarkHorse likes Pelicans +4.5 here, and the logic is sound. Take the points, take the rested legs, and watch Denver's road struggles continue in the Smoothie King Center.