Utah Jazz forward/center Kelly Olynyk (41) defends Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15). Christopher Creveling-USA TODAY Sports

Look of the Day for Friday Jan. 12: Nuggets look golden vs. Pelicans

By Jack Dougherty | Last updated 1/12/24

We just can't catch a break this week on Look of the Day. It all started on Monday when Jayson Tatum got ruled out for rest in a great matchup. After two tough beats on Tuesday and Wednesday, Damian Lillard fell four points shy of his over on Thursday night because he didn't play the end of the third quarter and the entire fourth quarter due to a blowout.

We need a win to close out the week, and we're going to get it thanks to the best team in the Western Conference.

Look of the Day: Denver Nuggets first quarter -2.5 (-112 FanDuel)

You can't go wrong backing the reigning champion Nuggets, especially when their best starting lineup is on the floor. Denver's lineup of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has a net rating of 16.5 this season, which is the second-best mark in the NBA among five-man lineups that have played at least 15 games together.

That's why we're backing the Nuggets in the first quarter, when their starting lineup will play the first 8-10 minutes together. The Nuggets are 22-17 against the spread in the first quarter this season, and we like them to improve upon that record against a beat-up New Orleans Pelicans team on Friday night.

Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, C.J. McCollum and Trey Murphy III are all listed as questionable for the game. If even one of those players sits, the Nuggets will have a major advantage in the first quarter with their best five-man lineup on the court.

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