Indiana Pacers vs. Denver Nuggets: Spread, Line, Odds, Predictions, Picks and Betting Preview

INDIANA PACERS VS. DENVER NUGGETS GAME INFORMATION

Date: 3/15/21

Time: 9 p.m. ET

Venue: Ball Arena

TV Coverage: NBA League Pass

INDIANA PACERS VS. DENVER NUGGETS MONEYLINE, SPREAD, TOTAL, AND ODDS

Moneyline: Pacers +158 | Nuggets -188

Spread: Nuggets -4.5

Total: 224.0

NBA Championship Odds: Pacers +8500 | Nuggets +3000

Odds courtesy of Fanduel Sportsbook. Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook today and get your first bet risk-free for up to $1,000!

INDIANA PACERS VS. DENVER NUGGETS NEWS AND NOTES

Both of these sides have started to get a bit healthier recently.

The Pacers got Caris LeVert in the lineup for the first time since acquiring him from the Nets, and that has the potential to be a massive development. The Pacers have struggled since making that trade, but that will happen when you ship Victor Oladipo off and get nothing in return. Now that LeVert is back, this team has a chance to rocket up in the Eastern Conference standings.

LeVert still has to work his way back into game shape – he was limited to just 27 minutes in his first game with the Pacers – but he averaged 18.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 12 games with the Nets earlier this year. The Pacers pulled off a big road win vs. the Suns in their last game, and they’ll look to take down another Western Conference power tonight.

On the Nuggets’ side, they were able to get Paul Millsap back in the lineup recently. He had missed 10 straight games, but he’s been able to suit up in each of the past two. JaMychal Green also returned to the lineup in their last game, which gives the Nuggets some much-needed depth in their frontcourt.

That said, Monte Morris has been ruled out for the second straight game due to a quad contusion. Morris has played a large role off the bench for Denver this season, averaging 27.2 minutes per game, so his absence will be felt.

INDIANA PACERS VS. DENVER NUGGETS PREVIEW AND PICK

The Nuggets only being favored by 4.5 points is a bit surprising here. The Pacers have a losing record at the moment, and the Nuggets have been one of the best teams in the Western Conference. That means the books are clearly showing the Pacers some respect with LeVert back in the lineup.

This game’s betting activity indicates that this is setting up as a clear “sharps vs. squares” battle. The public favors the Nuggets, who are receiving 54% of the spread bets, but the dollars definitely favor the Pacers. They’re receiving 87% of the spread dollars, which suggests that the significant, high-dollar bets are landing on the underdog. That is usually a good indicator that the professional money is backing the Pacers.

The return of LeVert cannot be understated. He was playing like an All-Star earlier this season with the Nets, and he was able to carry the team over a few games with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant out of the lineup. Adding that player to a team that already has Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon is a potential gamechanger.

Meanwhile, Morris’s absence is a bigger deal than the public probably realizes. He’s been their third-most important player this season in terms of Net Rating differential. The Nuggets have increased their Net Rating by +5.4 points per 100 possessions with Morris on the court this season, which trails only Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic in terms of on-court impact for the Nuggets.

The Nuggets lost their last game by 13 points without Murray, and I think they’re looking at another defeat on Monday.

The Pick: Pacers +4.5