• Two struggling Summer League squads meet in the first game on Thursday when the Pacers face the Nuggets
• Indiana (1-2) picked up its first win last time out while Denver (0-3) remains winless
• Below, see the Indiana Pacers vs Denver Nuggets odds, picks, and predictions for July 18 in Las Vegas

Thursday’s huge slate of NBA Summer League action starts with the Indiana Pacers (1-2) vs Denver Nuggets (0-3) at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas at 1:30 pm PT/4:30 pm ET.

Just like their NBA squad, the Pacers’ Summer League team is playing a run-and-gun style, leading to relatively high-scoring games in the Summer League’s 40-minute format, scoring at least 94 points each time out. Denver, on the other hand, has only cracked 80 once in three tries.

With two contrasting styles going head-to-head, the Pacers vs Nuggets odds favor Indiana running its win streak to two.

Indiana Pacers vs Denver Nuggets Odds

The Pacers are listed as five-point favorites and -225 on the moneyline to win straight-up. The Nuggets come back at +185 to pick up their first win of the Summer League season, while the game total is sitting at 176 with the over slightly favored at -115.

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Pacers Get in the Win Column

After a narrow 97-95 OT loss to Brooklyn and a 104-95 setback to Minnesota in their first two Summer League games, the Pacers picked up a 98-94 win over Phoenix on Tuesday. Jarace Walker, the #8 overall pick in the 2023 draft, starred with 19 points. Walker appeared in 33 games for Indiana last year, averaging 3.6 PPG and 1.9 RPG in 10.3 MPG.

Ben Sheppard (4.4 PPG, 1.6 RPG in 2023-24) and Oscar Tshiebwe (3.3 PPG, 2.0 RPG) are also on Indiana’s Summer League roster and have made meaningful contributions over the first three games.

In terms of the rookies, Johnny Furphy – the #35 overall pick – has been the best, averaging 16.0 PPG and 6.3 RPG so far in Summer League.

It’s clear that rebounding is one of the main strengths of Indiana’s Summer League squad. They have won the rebounding battle in all three games and are +14 combined over 125 minutes.

Nuggets Non-Competitive Last Time Out

Denver’s first two losses were both fairly close, at least for three quarters. They dropped am 88-78 decision to the Clippers last Thursday – a three-point game heading into the fourth – and an 84-81 verdict to the Raptors on Saturday. But their last game was an 80-66 rout at the hands of the Charlotte Hornets. Denver shot an appalling 30.9% from the field and were -5 in turnovers.

Julian Strawther, who  poured in 57 points in the first two games, didn’t suit up and has been shut down for the remainder of Summer League.

Making matters worse for Denver’s Summer League prospects, Da’Ron Holmes – the #22 overall picks in the 2024 draft, who impressed with 11 points on 50% shooting with seven rebounds in his first Summer League game – suffered a torn Achilles and is out indefinitely.

Pacers vs Nuggets Predictions & Picks

The Nuggets are missing a couple key bodies, while the Pacers are rolling out a team with a handful of meaningful regular-season contributors. This has the look of another blowout loss for Denver.

I’m also going to back the under. Denver’s games are averaging just 159 PPG and, even if Indiana dictates the pace, the Nuggets just don’t have the horses to put up a big number at the other end. At least, they haven’t shown it yet.

If any books were offering player props, I would love to back an over on Furphy, who’s been borderline dominant. But with rosters always in flux, no point totals have been posted of yet.

IND vs DEN picks:

• Pacers -5 (-110)
• Under 176 points (-105)

Sascha Paruk’s Summer League betting record: 3-2 (+1.16 units).
All wagers one unit unless expressly stated otherwise. 

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