The set-up: The 34-37 Denver Nuggets currently hold down the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference but there is little room for error, as they own a slim one-game lead over the Blazers. After losing both ends of a home-and-home with Rockets, the Nuggets got a much-needed 126-113 home win over the Cavs on Wednesday. Now it's off to Indiana to take on the 36-35 Pacers, who are tied for sixth in the East with Milwaukee but just one game up on the 8th-place Heat, who are just one game up on both the Bulls and Pistons. Things are getting tight!

Denver: Shooting guard Gary Harris (14.9) had 21 points on 8-of-14 against the Cavs, as the Nuggets shot 53.1 percent as a team. Rising star Nikola Jokic (16.2 & 9.4), added 16 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Harris has played very well recently (he's averaging 16.9 PPG in March,) and the Nuggets have won eight of their last 12 games, reaching 100-plus points in each one.

Indiana: The Pacers are coming off a 109-100 loss at Boston on Wednesday and have now alternated wins and losses over their last 15 games! Indiana is 4-5 in its last nine, with the five losses (all on the road) coming by an average of 13.2 PPG and the four wins (all at home) coming by an average of 12.3 points. All-Star forward Paul George (22.5-6.4-3.3) admitted that Indiana was playing like a lottery team on the road and a playoff team at home before Wednesday's game at Boston. George scored 35 points while only one other Pacers player reached double figures in the loss. "From what I see, everyone is giving it everything they

The pick: Yes, the Pacers are an impressive 25-10 SU at home (compared to 11-25 on the road) but I want all the points I can get with the high-scoring Nuggets. Make Denver an 8* play.