The New Orleans Pelicans visit the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, October 24, 2026, both teams looking for their first wins. New Orleans is 0-2, while Denver is 0-1, so both squads are eager to bounce back.
Looking at the betting odds, Denver is a heavy favorite at home with a -11.5 point spread and -485 moneyline. This means sportsbooks expect Denver to win by at least 12 points, and betting on Denver to win outright requires risking $485 to win $100. On the flip side, the Pelicans are +11.5 underdogs, meaning they can lose by up to 11 points for a bet on them to win. Their moneyline is +370, so a $100 bet would net $370 if they pull off the upset.
The total points line is set at 238.5 with a slight lean toward the under (-112) versus the over (-108). This suggests sportsbooks expect a moderately high-scoring game but see the potential for the total to stay just under that mark.
Given Denver’s strong home favoritism and the large spread, the market sees them as the superior team despite both squads starting with losses. Betting the Nuggets to cover the 11.5 points may be tempting but comes with a slightly higher risk price (-105). Meanwhile, backing the Pelicans plus the points offers more value but assumes they keep it close.
Overall, expect Denver to control the game, but the total and spread prices suggest a competitive contest worth watching closely.