New Orleans vs Nuggets Prediction 15 November 2026

The New Orleans Pelicans are going through a difficult spell: they have lost their last six games, most recently falling 111-142 to Memphis the previous day. New Orleans score 116.9 points per game on average but concede 125.6, pointing to serious defensive problems. They allow opponents too many scoring opportunities, and their own offensive efforts do not make up the difference. Turnovers are another problem: the Pelicans average 16.5 per game.

Much of their offence depends on Zion Williamson and Saddiq Bey. Williamson puts pressure on the basket with drives and play in the paint, while Bey can contribute with shots from the perimeter. He scored 30 points in the most recent game against Memphis. Meanwhile, player absences limit the rotation options and make it difficult to find a consistent combination of players. The team have a particularly tough time on defence, where the absence of several players affects their rebounding and individual defence.

Denver have won three of their last five games, including victories over Toronto (128:109), Indiana (114:102) and Memphis (123:118). The Nuggets average 114.5 points scored and 113.3 conceded per game. They shoot 48.3% from the field, record 27.6 assists and commit 13.3 turnovers per game. These figures reflect Denver’s strength: an organised offence in which scoring depends not only on individual contributions from their leaders, but also on how the entire starting five work together.

The team’s key player is Nikola Jokic. The centre averages 23.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game. His impact goes beyond scoring: Jokic connects the players on offence, finds open teammates and helps Denver control the pace. Jamal Murray creates opportunities from the perimeter, while Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun bring physicality and off-ball movement. With roles divided this way, the Nuggets can keep scoring even in games where one of their leaders does not score many points.