Nuggets vs Pacers Prediction and Betting Odds

Denver take a 4-3 start to Mexico City, where a Pacers side without Tyrese Haliburton needs more than altitude to bridge the gap.

Indiana had lost five on the trot before scrapping past Memphis on November 4, and that slide lines up almost exactly with Tyrese Haliburton going down with a hamstring injury.

Now they head to Mexico City, roughly 2,240 metres above sea level, to face a Nuggets side whose whole program is built around thin air and who have Nikola Jokic coming off a 32-point triple-double.

Before we get to our full preview, here are the key details:

• Competition: NBA Regular Season (NBA Mexico City Game 2026)
• Venue: Arena CDMX, Mexico City (neutral site)
• Date: Sunday, November 8, 2026 (AEDT)
• Start Time: 9am AEDT If you are unsure about the early tip-off, here is how to watch the NBA in Australia.

Indiana Have Lost the Thread Without Haliburton

Denver's start has been a bit up and down, with losses to Golden State and Portland at home, but they've won three of their last five and the best of those came last time out, a 128-109 belting of Toronto where Jokic posted his third triple-double of the season. Road wins in New Orleans and Phoenix show they travel well, too.

Indiana won two of their first four, including a 136-109 rout in Brooklyn, but the wheels came off as Haliburton went down.

They lost five straight to Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Miami, Brooklyn and Atlanta, conceding 145 in Miami along the way, before edging the Grizzlies 107-103 in Memphis.

The head to head leans hard Denver's way. The Nuggets won both meetings last season, 117-100 in Denver and 135-120 in Indianapolis, while the Pacers limped to 19 wins all year.

The Pacers' Injury List Keeps Growing

The big one is Haliburton, ruled out for at least two weeks with a hamstring problem in late October after averaging 21.8 points and 9.5 assists in his four games back.

Indiana's injury list doesn't stop there, with Ben Sheppard (meniscus surgery), Johnny Furphy (knee) and T.J. McConnell (hamstring) all out, while Ivica Zubac, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Obi Toppin were questionable heading into the Memphis game.

Denver are in much better shape, with Julian Strawther (knee) the notable absence and Spencer Jones and Cameron Johnson the ones to watch on the final report.

Both teams last played on 4 November (US time), so each gets two full days off and fatigue shouldn't be a factor.

Nuggets vs Pacers Betting Markets

The head to head looks fairly clear cut on paper, which pushes the line to the front of the queue.

Denver beat the Pacers by 17 and 15 points last season, and an Indiana side missing its two main ball handlers has been leaking points, so this is a game where it makes sense to bet on an NBA handicap rather than the head to head.

The total is trickier. Denver can push past 125 when Jokic is cooking, but Indiana's offence has stalled without Haliburton, including a 90-point night against Brooklyn.

Jokic's points, rebounds and assists props will be popular as usual, and with the Pacers' backcourt this thin, the Nuggets vs Pacers odds are worth another look once Indiana's final injury report confirms who's actually suiting up.

Nuggets vs Pacers Prediction: Our Pick

We're backing the Nuggets to win and cover the line. Indiana have won one of their last five, Denver handled them comfortably twice last season, and Jokic is in the kind of form that makes even a neutral floor feel like a home game.

The altitude only adds to the edge for a team that trains and plays at a mile high every week.

The risk is the rest. Both sides have had two days off, and if Zubac and Oubre are cleared, Indiana have the size to make Jokic work harder than he did against Toronto.

A slow start from Denver in a novelty game could keep this closer than it should be. Denver fans weighing up the rest of the slate can find more selections in today's NBA tips.

Our pick: Nuggets to win and cover the line.