Tip-off: Friday, 7:05 p.m. ET
Line: Indiana -3.5, Total: 196.5

Two struggling teams clash on Friday night when the Nuggets visit the Pacers.

Denver hosted Portland on Wednesday and got blown out 130-113 as a 3-point favorite, giving the club its sixth straight loss (SU and ATS). Indiana also had a six-game losing skid recently, but has recovered nicely with two straight wins (SU and ATS), including an 81-75 road upset at 8.5-point favorite Miami on Wednesday. The Pacers have now covered in four of their past five contests. Denver is 3-1 SU (2-2 ATS) when playing Indiana over the previous two seasons, and last season these teams split wins SU and ATS with both teams winning-and-covering at home. Three of these past four meetings have finished Over the total. Denver is 19-5 ATS after allowing 105+ points in five straight games since 1996, but is also 45-26 ATS after a home loss to a division rival in that time. Indiana, however, is 28-11 ATS in the first half of the season in the past two years. SG Randy Foye (knee) is questionable for the Nuggets, and for the Pacers, PF David West (ankle) may make his season debut in this game, while SG C.J. Miles has been upgraded to probable and SG Rodney Stuckey (foot) is out indefinitely.

Will the Nuggets finally end their long losing skid? For the answer, connect to The Platinum Sheet for all the Expert picks throughout the entire 2014-15 season. StatFox Forecaster has a 60% ATS record (24-16) in featured games this season. StatFox Scott is off to a great start to the 2014-15 campaign at 58% ATS (7-5), while StatFox Brian is 63% ATS (5-3) on NBA Best Bets in November.

Denver is really struggling to start the season but did get some good news recently, as PF Danilo Gallinari (6.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG) and PG Nate Robinson (7.0 PPG) are no longer playing with minute restrictions. Both players are coming off of a torn ACL and will be very much needed if this team is going to turn things around. PG Ty Lawson (16.7 PPG, 7.5 APG, 1.3 SPG) had 32 points and six assists in the Nuggets’ loss to Portland. Lawson will need to be on his game tonight, as the Pacers are still playing with a weak platoon of point guards. Denver gave PF Kenneth Faried (11.4 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.0 BPG) a big contract extension this summer and he has not played up to expectations. Faried needs to be more aggressive offensively while playing with the same motor that he did when he won the gold medal with Team USA this summer. The biggest issue with this team, however, has been its miserable defense. Denver is allowing 111.1 PPG (29th in NBA) this season and it is just too difficult to stay a game when the opponent is scoring at will. The Nuggets will likely look to slow their pace down, but that could play right into the hands of an excellent Pacers defense.

Indiana has won two straight games and continues to play at a high level defensively even with all the changes to its team. The club is allowing just 92.4 PPG (3rd in NBA) this season and is are also keeping teams from getting second chances with its high rebounding clip of 46.8 RPG (2nd in NBA). Offensively, the Pacers have been extremely balanced with SF Chris Copeland (15.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG) as the team’s top scorer. He had 17 points and five rebounds in Indiana’s victory in Miami on Wednesday, and could have another big game against a Denver team that gives up a lot of easy shots. C Roy Hibbert (14.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 3.3 BPG) has been this team’s best player this season. Hibbert dominated Miami, finishing with 16 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks in 34 minutes of play. He is anchoring the defense as well as ever, and his offensive game is finally back to where it was before the struggles in last season’s playoffs. PF Solomon Hill (11.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG) continues to play well for this team on both ends of the floor. Hill is averaging 15.2 PPG, 6.0 RPG and 1.4 SPG in the past five contests. He’s more than capable of creating his own shot and has been using his length to disrupt his competitors on the defensive end.