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Pelicans vs Thunder Prediction 4/13/25 NBA Picks Today

Peter Tran — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 03:13:13 +0000

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the New Orleans Pelicans duke it out at the Smoothie King Center on Sunday night. Here’s a Pelicans vs Thunder Prediction. This article will include a Pelicans vs Thunder Pick.

Oklahoma City Betting Preview

The Oklahoma City Thunder have been on fire as they’ve lost 21 of their last 24 games overall and they will be eager to finish with a fourth straight victory after blowing past the lowly Jazz in a 145-111 road win on Friday. Aaron Wiggins led the team with 35 points on 14 of 24 shooting, Isaiah Joe added 32 points with nine assists on 11 of 15 shooting, while Jaylin Williams chipped in with a triple-double of 15 points with 11 rebounds and 10 assists. As a team, the Thunder shot 56 percent from the field and a sizzling 24 of 53 from the 3-point line as they stormed out of the gates with 46 points in the first quarter to take the early double-digit. They just kept their foot on the gas, outscoring the Jazz in every quarter to win easily on the road.

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview

Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have been in a real slump, as they’ve lost nine of their last 11 games overall. They will be hoping to arrest a six-game slide after getting scorched by the Heat in a 153-104 home defeat on Friday. Jamal Cain led the team with 25 points off the bench, Antonio Reeves added 19 points while Elfrid Payton chipped in with four points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists. As a team, the Pelicans shot 40 percent from the field and 14 of 37 from the 3-point line as they struggled right from the tipoff, falling behind by 17 points at halftime. Things only got worse in the second half where they got outscored by 17. 82-50.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win

The Pelicans have won six of their last nine games as home underdogs against the Thunder following a loss.
The Pelicans have covered the spread in each of their last five day games following a home loss.
The Thunder have failed to cover the spread in four of their last five day games against Western Conference opponents that held a losing record.

Why the Oklahoma City Thunder will win

The Thunder have won each of their last 26 games against teams that held a losing record.
The Pelicans have lost each of their last nine games against Thunder teams that held a winning record.
The Thunder have covered the spread in each of their last 12 games at Smoothie King Center.
The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six games against Thunder teams that held a winning record.

Matchup/League Facts

The Pelicans rank 29th in the league for point differential per game this season (-9.4).
The Pelicans rank 29th in the league for opponent field goal percentage this season (48.4%).
The Thunder rank 1st in the league for point differential per game this season (+12.8).
The Thunder rank 1st in the league for steals per game this season (10.4).

Pelicans vs Thunder Prediction

The Thunder are still missing Luguentz Dort, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, while the Pelicans have ruled out CJ McCollum, Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy and Herbert Jones again. It’s always tough picking games where both teams are missing all their starters, but the Thunder’s reserves showed that they could smash the Jazz in their last outing, and I think they will cruise to an easy victory once again.

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Pelicans vs Heat Prediction 4/11/25 NBA Picks Today

Randy Chambers — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 03:59:15 +0000

The Miami Heat and New Orleans Pelicans meet on Friday in NBA action at the Smoothie King Center. Here’s a Pelicans vs Heat Prediction. This article will include a Pelicans vs Heat Pick.

Miami Heat Betting Preview

The Miami Heat lost to the Bulls, beat the 76ers, and they play the Wizards next. The Heat have won seven of their last 10 games and are currently the 10th seed in the East.

The Miami Heat are averaging 110 points on 46.3 percent shooting and allowing 109.9 points on 46.6 percent shooting. Tyler Herro is averaging 23.9 points and 5.2 rebounds, while Andrew Wiggins is averaging 19.9 points and 4.1 rebounds. Bam Adebayo is the third double-digit scorer, and Terry Rozier is grabbing 3.7 rebounds. The Miami Heat are shooting 36.7 percent from beyond the arc and 79.3 percent from the free-throw line. The Miami Heat are allowing 35.8 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 43.2 rebounds per game.

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview

The New Orleans Pelicans lost to the Bucks and Nets, and they play the Thunder next. The Pelicans have lost 15 of their last 19 games.

The New Orleans Pelicans are averaging 110 points on 45.4 percent shooting and allowing 118.7 points on 48.2 percent shooting. Zion Williamson is averaging 24.6 points and 7.2 rebounds, while CJ McCollum is averaging 21.1 points and 3.8 rebounds. Trey Murphy III is the third double-digit scorer, and Brandon Boston is grabbing 3.2 rebounds. The New Orleans Pelicans are shooting 35 percent from beyond the arc and 75.4 percent from the free-throw line. The New Orleans Pelicans are allowing 36.5 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 43.5 rebounds per game.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win

The Heat have lost each of their last six games against opponents who are on the second leg of a back-to-back.
The Pelicans have won six of their last seven home games against teams that held a losing record.
The Heat have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six road games against Western Conference opponents.
The Pelicans have covered the spread in seven of their last eight games as home underdogs when playing with a rest disadvantage.

Why the Miami Heat will win

The Heat have won each of their last 10 games against Southwest Division opponents after losing as favorites.
The Pelicans have lost each of their last eight games when playing with a rest disadvantage.
The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six games against Heat teams that held a losing record.
The Heat have covered the spread in nine of their last 10 games as road favorites after losing as favorites.

Total Points Facts

Each of the Pelicans’ last seven games at Smoothie King Center following a road loss have gone UNDER the total points line.
Each of the Heat’s last four games against Western Conference opponents have gone UNDER the total points line.

Pelicans vs Heat Injury Report

The Pelicans will be without Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones, Zion Williamson, Jose Alvarado, Kelly Olynyk, Jordan Hawkins, CJ McCollum, and Brandon Boston.

The Miami Heat will be without Nikola Jovic, Pelle Larsson, Kevin Love, and Dru Smith. Isaiah Stevens is questionable.

Pelicans vs Heat Prediction

The Heat need to win to have any chance of getting out of the 10th seed, and the Pelicans look like a team that’s ready for the season to end. The problem is the Heat can’t be trusted in the favorite role because they play down to their competition year after year. Heck, even in a big game against the Bulls, the Heat fell flat on their face. The Heat are 3-10-1 ATS in their last 14 games as a double-digit favorite. The Heat should win, but I’m not laying this many points. It’s either the Pelicans or pass.

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Bucks vs Pelicans Prediction 4/10/25 NBA Picks Today

Peter Tran — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 06:10:12 +0000

The Milwaukee Bucks play host to the New Orleans Pelicans at the Fiserv Forum on Thursday night. Here’s a Bucks vs Pelicans Prediction. This article will include a Bucks vs Pelicans Pick.

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview

The New Orleans Pelicans have been in a terrible slump as they’ve lost 14 of their last 18 games overall, and they will be hoping to snap a four-game skid after getting beaten by the Nets in a 119-114 road defeat on Tuesday. Antonio Reeves and Karlo Matkovic each scored 17 points, Jose Alverado added 16 points, while Jamal Cain chipped in with 15 points off the bench. As a team, the Pelicans shot 47 percent from the field and 12 of 33 from the 3-point line as they fought hard to keep pace with the Nets in a tightly contested first half. Only to get completely blown out in the third quarter, where they leaked 43 points to trail by as many as 20 points.

Milwaukee Bucks Betting Preview

Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks are starting to heat up again as they will be gunning for a sixth-straight victory after sneaking past the Timberwolves in a thrilling 110-103 home win on Tuesday. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the team with a triple-double of 23 points with 13 rebounds and 10 assists, Kevin Porter Jr added 21 points with five assists, while Bobby Portis chipped in with 18 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. As a team, the Bucks shot 47 percent from the field and 12 of 36 from the 3-point line as they got off to a poor start and looked to be in deep trouble when they trailed by 24 points. But they kept their heads and dominated the fourth quarter by 40-13 to run down the Timberwolves with time to spare and finish with their best comeback win of the season.

Why the Milwaukee Bucks will win

The Pelicans have lost each of their last 12 games against Eastern Conference opponents that held a winning record.
The Bucks have won each of their last 11 games as home favorites against Southwest Division opponents following a win.
The Bucks have covered the spread in nine of their last 10 games as home favorites against Southwest Division opponents following a win.
The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in four of their last five games at Fiserv Forum.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win

The underdogs have won three of the Bucks’ last four games at Fiserv Forum.
The Bucks have lost three of their last four games as home favorites after winning as underdogs.
The Bucks have failed to cover the spread in each of their last seven games against Southwest Division opponents that held a losing record.
The underdogs have covered the spread in eight of the Bucks’ last 10 games.

Matchup/League Facts

The Bucks rank 30th in the league for offensive rebounds per game this season (8.3).
The Bucks rank 2nd in the league for opponent blocks per game this season (3.8).
The Pelicans rank 29th in the league for opponent three-point field goal attempts per game this season (39.9).
The Pelicans rank 28th in the league for opponent field goal percentage this season (48.2%).

Bucks vs Pelicans Prediction

The Pelicans have ruled out CJ McCollum, Zion Williamson, and Trey Murphy again, while the Bucks have ruled out Damian Lillard again, and they have Pat Connaughton listed as questionable. The Pelicans have been one of the coldest teams in the league. They are missing almost all of their best players and just dropped a game to the slumping Nets. The Bucks were always going to be heavy favorites in this matchup, but I think it’s completely warranted as the Bucks have sprung to life recently. They would’ve taken so much confidence from their impressive comeback win over the Timberwolves in their last outing. The line is hefty, but I will stick with the Bucks to stay hot with another win and cover at home.

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Nets vs Pelicans Prediction 4/8/25 NBA Picks Today

Randy Chambers — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 05:37:02 +0000

The New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets meet on Tuesday in NBA action at the Barclays Center. Here’s a Nets vs Pelicans Prediction. This article will include a Nets vs Pelicans Pick.

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview

The New Orleans Pelicans lost to the Bucks and Lakers, and they play the Bucks, Heat, and Thunder next. The Pelicans have lost 13 of their last 17 games.

The New Orleans Pelicans are averaging 110 points on 45.4 percent shooting and allowing 118.7 points on 48.2 percent shooting. Zion Williamson is averaging 24.6 points and 7.2 rebounds, while CJ McCollum is averaging 20.8 points and 3.8 rebounds. Trey Murphy III is the third double-digit scorer, and Brandon Boston is grabbing 3.2 rebounds. The New Orleans Pelicans are shooting 34.9 percent from beyond the arc and 75.4 percent from the free-throw line. The New Orleans Pelicans are allowing 36.5 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 43.5 rebounds per game.

Brooklyn Nets Betting Preview

The Brooklyn Nets lost to the Timberwolves and Raptors, and they play the Hawks, Timberwolves, and Knicks next. The Nets have lost 11 of their last 14 games.

The Brooklyn Nets are averaging 105.1 points on 43.7 percent shooting and allowing 111.9 points on 47.9 percent shooting. Cam Thomas is averaging 24 points and 3.3 rebounds, while Cameron Johnson is averaging 18.8 points and 4.3 rebounds. D’Angelo Russell is the third double-digit scorer, and Nic Claxton is grabbing 7.5 rebounds. The Brooklyn Nets are shooting 34.3 percent from beyond the arc and 78.9 percent from the free-throw line. The Brooklyn Nets are allowing 36.1 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 41.3 rebounds per game.

Why the Brooklyn Nets will win

The Nets have won each of their last nine games against Pelicans teams that held a losing record.
The Pelicans have lost seven of their last eight road games.
The Nets have covered the spread in eight of their last nine games against Pelicans teams that held a losing record.
The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in each of their last three road games against teams that held a losing record.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win

The road team has won each of the Nets’ last seven games.
The Nets have lost each of their last three games as favorites.
The road team has covered the spread in each of the Nets’ last 10 games.
The Nets have failed to cover the spread in each of their last five games at Barclays Center.

Matchup/League Facts

The Nets rank 30th in the league for points per game this season (105.1).
The Nets rank 30th in the league for field goals made per game this season (37.7).
The Pelicans rank 29th in the league for opponent three-point field goal attempts per game this season (39.9).
The Pelicans rank 29th in the league for defensive rating this season (119.5).

Nets vs Pelicans Injury Report

The Nets will be Cam Thomas, D’Angelo Russell, Keon Johnson, Noah Clowney, Cameron Johnson, and Day’Ron Sharpe.

The Pelicans will be without Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones, Zion Williamson, Jordan Hawkins, CJ McCollum, and Brandon Boston. Jose Alvarado and Kelly Olynyk are questionable.

Nets vs Pelicans Prediction

I’m not a fan of laying points with teams that have nothing to play for at this stage of the NBA season. Injury reports are getting larger, and wins at this point hurt losing teams more than help in terms of draft stock. However, the Nets are at home, and they’re playing a Pelicans team that has just seven road wins. The Pelicans have nearly their entire roster on the injury report, and the Nets are a profitable 41-36-1 ATS on the season. I’ll lay the bucket with the Nets if forced to get involved in this contest.

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Pelicans vs Bucks Prediction 4/6/25 NBA Picks Today

Peter Tran — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 06:55:28 +0000

The Milwaukee Bucks pay a visit to the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on Sunday night. Here’s a Pelicans vs Bucks Prediction. This article will include a Pelicans vs Bucks Pick.

Milwaukee Bucks Betting Preview

The Milwaukee Bucks haven’t been at their best as they’ve lost six of their last 11 games overall, but they will be gunning for a fourth straight victory after outlasting the Heat in a 121-115 overtime road win last night. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the team with a triple-double of 36 points with 15 rebounds and 10 assists, Kevin Porter Jr added 24 points with 12 rebounds and eight assists off the bench while Brook Lopez chipped in with 17 points. As a team, the Bucks shot 51 percent from the field and eight of 24 from the 3-point line as they fought hard to rally back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter. They clamped down defensively and restricted the Heat to just four points in overtime to earn the gritty road win.

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview

Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have been doing it tough lately as they’ve lost five of their last seven games overall. They will be hoping to snap a two-game skid after getting trampled by the Lakers in a 124-108 road defeat on Friday. Jose Alverado led the team with 27 points and five assists on 10 of 21 shooting, Karlo Matkovic added 15 points on six of seven shooting while Yves Missi chipped in with 13 points and 11 rebounds. As a team, the Pelicans shot 48 percent from the field and 14 of 34 from the 3-point line, but they got cold early and were always fighting an uphill battle after getting outscored by 37-23 in the second quarter. Elfrid Payton had a mixed game as he tallied 12 assists but scored just two points with five turnovers, while Bruce Brown scored just one point on zero of five shooting.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win

The Bucks have lost four of their last five games as road favorites against Southwest Division opponents.
The home team has won seven of the last eight games between the Bucks and Pelicans.
The Bucks have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six games against Southwest Division opponents that held a losing record.
The home team has covered the spread in five of the last six games between the Bucks and Pelicans.

Why the Milwaukee Bucks will win

The Pelicans have lost each of their last 11 games against Eastern Conference opponents that held a winning record.
The favorites have won each of the Pelicans’ last seven games.
The Bucks have covered the spread in each of their last seven games following a road win.
The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in six of their last seven games as home underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.

Matchup/League Facts

The Pelicans rank 29th in the league for opponent three-point field goal attempts per game this season (40.0).
The Pelicans rank 29th in the league for defensive rating this season (119.6).
The Bucks rank 30th in the league for offensive rebounds per game this season (8.2).
The Bucks rank 1st in the league for three-point percentage this season (38.5%).

Pelicans vs Bucks Prediction

The Bucks are still shorthanded with Damian Lillard out again, while the Pelicans are still missing a host of players including Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy. These teams have yet to meet this season, as an earlier meeting back in January was postponed. The Bucks are starting to turn things around with three wins on the trot, and they are certainly more healthy than the Pelicans, who are missing almost all of their best players. It’s always tricky playing the second game of a back to back set, but the Bucks are in a groove right now and should be good enough to run past this slumping Pelicans squad, who have little to play for.

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Draftkings NBA Showdown Picks: Pelicans vs. Lakers 4/4/25

Hans Geevers — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 19:58:25 +0000

Later today, the NBA presents Draftkings basketball fans with a regular season matchup featuring the Los Angeles Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans. Let’s take a look at this game from a DFS perspective.

Before we dive into the Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans game let’s review the rules for the Draftkings single game showdown contest.

Draftkings Single Game Showdown Contest Rules

You have $50,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team captain. The captain accumulates 1.5 times the standard fantasy points. Additionally, the captain is 1.5 times the standard cost of the flex position.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard fantasy points. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your captain position if you hope to win a large field DFS GPP (guaranteed prize pool) showdown contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my Draftkings picks for this evening’s New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Lakers matchup.

Draftkings NBA Showdown Picks

Captain-Austin Reaves, Guard, Los Angeles Lakers $10,400

Guard Austin Reaves has been a standout performer for the Los Angeles Lakers this season. Examining Reaves game data from the 2024 NBA regular season will illuminate the impact he has had on the Los Angeles Lakers overall performance.

In 68 games that guard Austin Reaves has played for the Los Angeles Lakers this season, Reaves has averaged 19.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks a game.

Looking at the data just presented more closely, in the 68 games that Los Angeles Lakers has played for the Lakers this season, Austin Reaves has compiled a 45.6% field goal percentage, a 36.7% three-point percentage, and an 88.2% free throw percentage.

More recently, in the Denver Nuggets 131-126 win over the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this month, Los Angeles guard Austin Reaves certainly played at a high level. Let me be more specific. Reaves amassed 37 points, eight rebounds, 13 assists and four steals in the Nuggets victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

As I noted in the rules section above, selecting the correct player at the captain position for a Draftkings NBA showdown lineup is absolutely vital if you hope to win a large field GPP (guaranteed prize pool) DFS contest. Remember to keep that in mind as you determine which player to select for this coveted position in your lineup.

In my opinion, Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves is the most likely player to post the most Draftkings points in this NBA regular season game. With that said, I am backing Austin Reaves at the captain position for this one game Draftkings NBA Showdown contest.

Flex Plays

LeBron James, Forward, Los Angeles Lakers $11,800

In addition to guard Austin Reaves, forward LeBron James has been a key contributor for the Los Angeles Lakers this season.

In the 65 games that forward LeBron James has played for the Los Angeles Lakers this season, James is averaging a robust 50.8 Draftkings points a contest.

Additional flex plays I like to play well in this evening’s NBA game (Draftkings price noted): Luka Doncic, Point Guard (Los Angeles Lakers) $13,800: Jose Alvarado, Point Guard (New Orleans Pelicans) $7,600: Kelly Olynyk, Forward (New Orleans Pelicans) $8,000.

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Lakers vs Pelicans Prediction 4/4/25 NBA Picks Today

Peter Tran — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 05:29:22 +0000

The New Orleans Pelicans and the Los Angeles Lakers duke it out at the crypto.com Arena on Friday night. Here’s a Lakers vs Pelicans Prediction. This article will include a Lakers vs Pelicans Pick.

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview

The New Orleans Pelicans have been in poor form as they’ve lost 11 of their last 15 games overall, but they will be hoping to bounce back after getting trounced by the Clippers in a 114-98 road defeat on Wednesday. Jose Alverado led the team with 17 points and 10 assists, Bruce Brown added 16 points while Kelly Olynyk chipped in with 12 points. As a team, the Pelicans shot 50 percent from the field and a miserly four of 22 from the 3-point line as they got off to a terrible start. They were always fighting a losing battle after scoring just 16 points in the first quarter.

Los Angeles Lakers Betting Preview

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers have been in decent form as they’ve won three of their past five games overall. They will be eager to bounce back after having their two-game win streak snapped by the Warriors in a 123-116 home defeat last night. LeBron James led the team with 33 points and nine assists on 10 of 15 shooting, Austin Reaves drained nine 3-pointers to finish with 31 points while Rui Hachimura chipped in with 24 points on nine of 15 shooting. As a team, the Lakers shot 45 percent from the field and 18 of 47 from the 3-point line as they struggled to contain the Warriors’ Stephen Curry from the start. They had to work hard to cut a 16-point deficit to just five points before they ran out of time.

Why the Los Angeles Lakers will win

The Pelicans have lost each of their last 10 games at Crypto.com Arena against Lakers teams that held a winning record.
The Lakers have won 11 of their last 12 home games against Western Conference opponents that held a losing record.
The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six games at Crypto.com Arena against Lakers teams that held a winning record.
The Lakers have covered the spread in each of their last six games as home favorites when playing with a rest disadvantage.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win

The underdogs have won six of the Lakers’ last seven games.
The Lakers have lost four of their last five games as favorites.
The Pelicans have covered the spread in seven of their last eight games against Pacific Division opponents following a loss.
The Lakers have failed to cover the spread in four of their last five night games against teams that held a losing record.

Matchup/League Facts

The Lakers rank 30th in the league for field goal attempts per game this season (85.6).
The Lakers rank 2nd in the league for free throws made per game this season (18.3).
The Pelicans rank 29th in the league for opponent three-point field goal attempts per game this season (40.0).
The Pelicans rank 29th in the league for defensive rating this season (119.4).

Lakers vs Pelicans Prediction

The Pelicans are still playing without CJ McCollum, Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy, while the Lakers are coming in with a full squad once again. The Pelicans have been plagued by injuries all season, and things have only gotten worse now that they have pulled the plug on the season. In contrast, the Lakers were starting to heat up before last night’s tough loss to the Warriors, but you wouldn’t expect them to struggle in this one as the Pelicans aren’t even interested in trying to win. The line was always going to be hefty, but I think the Lakers will be eager to atone for last night’s poor performance with a bounce-back win and cover in this spot.

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Draftkings NBA Showdown Picks: Pelicans vs. Clippers 4/2/25

Hans Geevers — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 19:58:13 +0000

The NBA presents Draftkings basketball fans with a regular season matchup featuring the Los Angeles Clippers and the New Orleans Pelicans. Let’s take a look at this game from a DFS perspective.

Before we dive into the Los Angeles Clippers vs. New Orleans Pelicans game let’s review the rules for the Draftkings single game showdown contest.

Draftkings Single Game Showdown Contest Rules

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my Draftkings picks for this evening’s Pelicans vs. Clippers matchup.

Draftkings NBA Showdown Picks

Captain-James Harden, Point Guard, Los Angeles Clippers $11,800

Talented point guard James Harden has been a standout performer for the Los Angeles Clippers this season. With that said, how has the veteran point guard performed from a statistical standpoint? Let’s take a look at Harden’s game data from the 2024 NBA regular season to answer that question.

In the 72 games that James Harden has played for the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2024 NBA regular season, Harden is averaging 22.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks a game.

Looking closer at the data just presented, in the 72 games that James Harden has played this season, Harden has compiled a 40% field goal percentage, a 34.8% three-point percentage and an 87.5% free throw percentage.

More recently, in the Los Angeles Clippers 126-118 win over the New York Knicks earlier this month, Los Angeles point guard James Harden played exceptionally well. More specifically, James Harden tallied a robust 29 points, six rebounds, six assists and two blocks in the Los Angeles Clippers victory over the Knicks.

In my view, James Harden is the player most likely to accumulate the highest number of DraftKings points in this NBA regular season game. Having stated that, I am rolling with Los Angeles Clippers point guard James Harden at the captain position for this one game DraftKings NBA Showdown contest slate.

Flex Plays

Ivica Zubac, Center, Los Angeles Clippers $10,000

In addition to point guard James Harden, center Ivica Zubac been a key contributor to the Los Angeles Clippers success on the offensive side of the basketball this season.

In the last 73 games that center Ivica Zubac played for the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2024 NBA regular season, Zubac is averaging 16.5 points, 12.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 0.7 steals a game.

Examining the data just presented more closely, in the 73 games that Ivica Zubac has played this season, Zubac is averaging 40 Draftkings points a game.

Additional flex plays I like to play well in this evening’s NBA game (Draftkings price noted):Kawhi Leonard, Forward (Los Angeles Clippers) $11,400: Kelly Olynyk, Forward (New Orleans Pelicans) $8,400.

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Clippers vs Pelicans Prediction 4/2/25 NBA Picks Today

Peter Tran — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 04:06:24 +0000

The New Orleans Pelicans and the Los Angeles Clippers duke it out at the Intuit Dome on Wednesday night. Here’s a Clippers vs Pelicans Prediction. This article will include a Clippers vs Pelicans Pick.

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview

The New Orleans Pelicans have been doing it tough as they’ve lost 10 of their last 14 games overall, but they will be feeling better after they snuck past the Hornets in a 98-94 home win on Sunday. Keion Brooks Jr led teh team in scoring with 17 points off the bench, Antonio Reeves added 16 points while Kelly Olynyk chipped in with 13 points. As a team, the Pelicans shot just 41 percent from the field and nine of 31 from the 3-point line as they struggled to get going and scored just 43 points in the first half to fall behind by 13 points. However, they clawed their way back and scored the final five points to escape with the gritty home win in the end.

Los Angeles Clippers Betting Preview

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers have been in red-hot form as they’ve won 11 of their last 14 games overall, and they will be eager to keep it going after taking down the Magic in a 96-87 road win on Monday. Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell led the team in scoring with 21 points each. James Harden added 20 points with five assists and seven steals, while Ivica Zubac chipped in with 18 points, 20 rebounds, and five assists. As a team, the Clippers shot 43 percent from the field and eight of 31 from the 3-point line as they got off to a slow start and trailed for most of the contest. However, they played great defense to limit the Magic to just 40 points in the second half, allowing them to run down the Magic with plenty of time to spare. The Clippers will take on the Mavs after this game.

Why the Los Angeles Clippers will win

The Pelicans have lost 20 of their last 21 road games against teams that held a winning record.
The Clippers have won each of their last eight Wednesday games against Southwest Division opponents that held a losing record.
The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in nine of their last 10 road games against Western Conference opponents that held a winning record.
The Clippers have covered the spread in nine of their last 10 games.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win

The Pelicans have won each of their last eight night games against the Clippers following a home win.
The Clippers have lost seven of their last eight games when playing with a rest disadvantage against the Pelicans.
The Clippers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last eight games when playing with a rest disadvantage against the Pelicans.
The Pelicans have covered the spread in each of their last eight night games against the Clippers following a home win.

Total Points Facts

Each of the Clippers’ last seven games against the Pelicans following a road win have gone UNDER the total points line.
Each of the Pelicans’ last seven games as road underdogs have gone OVER the total points line.

Clippers vs Pelicans Prediction

The Pelicans are still missing a bunch of players, including Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy, CJ McCollum, and Brandon Boston, while the Clippers are still playing without Amir Coffey and Jordan Miller. The Pelicans are just playing out the rest of the regular season as they’ve shut down all their best players, while the Clippers are really starting to heat up at the right time with the playoffs just around the corner. The line was always going to be hefty, so while I like the Clippers to win comfortably, I still think the Pelicans can hang around long enough to get the backdoor cover.

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Pelicans vs Hornets Prediction 3/30/25 NBA Picks Today

Peter Tran — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 02:53:56 +0000

The Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans collide at the Smoothie King Center on Sunday night. Here’s a Pelicans vs Hornets Prediction. This article will include a Pelicans vs Hornets Pick.

Charlotte Hornets Betting Preview

The Charlotte Hornets have been in a real slump as they’ve lost six of their last seven games overall. They will be hoping to snap a four-game slide after getting routed by the Raptors in a 108-97 road defeat on Friday. Mark Williams led the team with 18 points, 12 rebounds and five assists on nine of nine shooting, DaQuan Jeffries added 15 points while KJ Simpson chipped in with 14 points. As a team, the Hornets shot just 40 percent from the field and nine of 31 from the 3-point line as they played great defense to limit the Raptors to just 17 points in the second quarter to overcome an early 13-point deficit. However, they lost their focus and allowed 34 points in the third quarter to get blown out on the road in the end.

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview

Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have been in a slump of their own as they’ve lost 10 of their last 13 games overall. They will be hoping to bounce back here after getting trounced by the Warriors in a 111-95 loss on Friday. Bruce Brown led the team with 18 points, Yves Missi added 12 points with 10 rebounds while Jose Alverado chipped in with 10 points. As a team, the Pelicans shot just 40 percent from the field and seven of 23 from the 3-point line as they got off to a great start and led for most of the game. Before they went ice-cold and scored just 13 points in the fourth quarter to allow the Warriors to slip away and blow them out in a disappointing finish. Jordan Hawkins had a rough game as he shot just two of 12 for his eight points while Kelly Olynyk finished with just six points on zero of seven shooting before fouling out.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win

The Hornets have lost nine of their last 10 games against Western Conference opponents.
The Pelicans have won each of their last six games as home favorites.
The home team has covered the spread in each of the last four games between the Hornets and Pelicans.
The Hornets have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four games.

Why the Charlotte Hornets will win

The Hornets have won each of their last five games against Southwest Division opponents that held a losing record.
The Pelicans have lost each of their last three games as favorites following a home loss.
The Hornets have covered the spread in each of their last five games against Southwest Division opponents that held a losing record.
The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in five of their last six games as favorites against opponents who are on the first leg of a back-to-back.

Matchup/League Facts

The Pelicans rank 30th in the league for defensive rating this season (119.8).
The Pelicans rank 29th in the league for point differential per game this season (-8.7).
The Hornets rank 30th in the league for field goal percentage this season (42.9%).
The Hornets rank 30th in the league for free throws made per game this season (15.4).

Pelicans vs Hornets Prediction

The Hornets have ruled out LaMelo Ball, and they are keeping an eye on Tidjane Salaun who is questionable, while the Pelicans are keeping eyes on Jordan Hawkins and Kelly Olynyk who are both questionable. You couldn’t back either side with any confidence these days, but with Ball being shut down for the season, I prefer a play on the Pelicans, who were more than competitive in their last game against the Warriors. It’s not much, but I will back the Pelicans to get the win and cover at the short line at home.

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Pelicans vs Warriors Prediction 3/28/25 NBA Picks Today

Peter Tran — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 02:56:34 +0000

The Golden State Warriors and the New Orleans Pelicans duke it out at the Smoothie King Center on Friday night. Here’s a Pelicans vs Warriors Prediction. This article will include a Pelicans vs Warriors Pick.

Golden State Warriors Betting Preview

The Golden State Warriors look to have cooled off a bit recently, as they are now hoping to avoid a third straight defeat after getting scorched by the Heat in a 112-86 road defeat on Tuesday. Jonathan Kuminga led the team with 15 points off the bench, Brandin Podziemski added 14 points, and Jimmy Butler chipped in with just 11 points. As a team, the Warriors shot just 39 percent from the field and nine of 38 from the 3-point line, as they didn’t match the urgency of the Heat from the start. They trailed by 17 points going into halftime before they got smashed in the fourth quarter, where they could only manage 16 points. Draymond Green had a quiet game of just two points with three assists, while Moses Moody shot just three of 13 from the field for his seven points.

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview

Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have been in a slump as they’ve lost nine of their last 12 games overall, but they will be feeling better after they ran past the 76ers in a 112-99 home win on Monday. Karlo Matkovic led the team with 19 points, eight rebounds, and three assists; Antonio Reeves added 17 points, Yves Missi scored 16 points, and Kelly Olynyk tallied 14 points with 11 rebounds and seven assists. As a team, the Pelicans shot 49 percent from the field and 15 of 35 from the 3-point line as they played solid defense to keep a lid on the 76ers in the first half. Before the Pelicans hit their groove and scored 32 points in the third quarter to lead by as many as 23 points at one stage. The Pels will meet the Hornets and Clippers after this game.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win

The underdogs have won four of the Warriors’ last five games.
The Warriors have lost three of their last four games as favorites.
The underdogs have covered the spread in each of the Warriors’ last six games.
The Warriors have failed to cover the spread in eight of their last nine games as favorites.

Why the Golden State Warriors will win

The Warriors have won each of their last 17 Friday games against Southwest Division opponents that held a losing record.
The Pelicans have lost each of their last seven games when playing with a rest advantage.
The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in eight of their last nine games as home underdogs following a win.
The Warriors have covered the spread in eight of their last nine games as road favorites after losing as favorites.

Matchup/League Facts

The Pelicans rank 30th in the league for defensive rating this season (119.8).
The Pelicans rank 29th in the league for point differential per game this season (-8.6).
The Warriors rank 3rd in the league for three-point field goal attempts per game this season (42.1).
The Warriors are one of only three teams to win a game when trailing by 20+ points after Q1 this season.

Pelicans vs Warriors Prediction

The Warriors are still shorthanded as they have ruled out Gary Payton, and they have Stephen Curry listed as questionable, while the Pelicans have ruled out Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, and Brandon Boston for this one. The Warriors have cooled off since Curry went down, and he might still be missing for this contest, but the Warriors should still have more than enough firepower to bounce back and run past this depleted Pelicans squad. They are missing almost all of their best players.

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Draftkings NBA Showdown Picks: 76ers vs. Pelicans 3/24/25

Hans Geevers — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 19:55:59 +0000

This Monday night, the NBA presents Draftkings basketball fans with a regular season matchup featuring the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Orleans Pelicans. Let’s take a look at this game from a DFS perspective.

Before we dive into the Philadelphia 76ers vs. New Orleans Pelicans game let’s review the rules for the Draftkings single game showdown contest.

Draftkings Single Game Showdown Contest Rules

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my Draftkings picks for this evening’s Philadelphia 76ers vs. New Orleans Pelicans matchup.

Draftkings NBA Showdown Picks

Captain-Jose Alvarado, Point Guard, New Orleans Pelicans $6,000

Veteran point guard Jose Alvarado has certainly been an essential part of the New Orleans Pelicans starting lineup this season. With that said, how has the talented point guard performed from a statistical standpoint? Let’s review Alvarado’s relevant player data from the 2024 NBA regular season to answer that question.

In the 48 games that point guard Jose Alvarado has played for the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2024 NBA regular season, Alvarado is averaging a robust 9.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.3 blocks a game.

Looking the data just presented more closely, in the 48 games that Jose Alvarado has played for the New Orleans Pelicans this season, Alvarado has compiled a 40.2% field goal percentage, a 37.9% three-point percentage and an 80% free throw percentage.

Last night, in the Detroit Pistons 136-130 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, New Orleans point guard Jose Alvarado played exceptionally well. More specifically, Alvarado amassed 10 points, four rebounds, eight assists and two steals in the Detroit Pistons victory over the Pelicans.

As I noted in the rules section above, selecting the correct player at the captain position for a Draftkings NBA showdown lineup is absolutely vital if you hope to win a large field GPP (guaranteed prize pool) DFS contest. Keep that in mind as you construct your lineups for this one game DFS slate.

In summary, I think Jose Alvarado’s low Draftkings price of only $6,000 presents the best fantasy value on this slate. For that specific reason, I am backing Jose Alvarado at the captain position for this one game Draftkings NBA single game contest.

Flex Plays

Kelly Olynyk, Forward, New Orleans Pelicans $7,200

In addition to point guard Jose Alvarado, forward Kelly Olynyk has been a key contributor for the New Orleans Pelicans this season.

In the 38 games that forward Kelly Olynyk has played in the 2024 NBA regular season, Olynyk has averaged 20.3 Draftkings points a game.

Additional flex plays I like to play well in this evening’s NBA game (Draftkings price noted): Justin Edwards, Small Forward (Philadelphia 76ers) $7,000: Jeff Dowtin, Point Guard (Philadelphia 76ers) $6,600: Ricky Council IV, Forward (Philadelphia 76ers) $6,400.

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Pelicans vs 76ers Prediction 3/24/25 NBA Picks Today

Peter Tran — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 00:57:00 +0000

The New Orleans Pelicans play host to the Philadelphia 76ers at the Smoothie King Center on Monday night. Here’s a Pelicans vs 76ers Prediction. This article will include a Pelicans vs 76ers Pick.

Philadelphia 76ers Betting Preview

The Philadelphia 76ers have been in terrible shape as they’ve lost 19 of their last 22 games overall and they will be eager to snap a four-game slide after getting thrashed by the Hawks in a 132-119 road defeat last night. Quentin Grimes led the team with 26 points and six assists, Justin Edwards added 22 points with three assists and two blocks while Jeff Dowtin Jr chipped in with 17 points.

As a team, the 76ers shot 44 percent from the field and 11 of 34 from the 3-point line as they leaked 35 points in the first quarter to fall behind by 12 points at halftime. Before they allowed another 41 points in the third quarter to trail by as many as 27 points at one stage. The 76ers will meet the Wizards after this game.

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview

Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have been in a slump of their own as they’ve lost nine of their last 11 games. They will be hoping to snap a two-game skid after falling short to the Pistons in a 136-130 road defeat last night. CJ McCollum led the team with 40 points and seven assists, Jordan Hawkins added 25 points off the bench while Jeremiah Robinson-Earl chipped in with 13 points, six rebounds, and eight assists.

As a team, the Pelicans shot a healthy 57 percent from the field and 20 of 40 from the 3-point line, but it still wasn’t enough to take down the Pistons who exploded for 43 points in the fourth quarter to slip away. The Pelicans got outscored at the free throw line by 29-12 and their 18 turnovers were the difference in a close contest. The Pels will face the Warriors, Hornets, Clippers, and Lakers following this one.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win

The 76ers have lost each of their last eight road games following a road loss.
The home team has won each of the 76ers’ last four games.
The 76ers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last 11 games as road underdogs following a road loss.
The home team has covered the spread in seven of the Pelicans’ last eight games with both teams on the second leg of a back-to-back.

Why the Philadelphia 76ers will win

The Pelicans have lost each of their last six games against Eastern Conference opponents.
The 76ers have won four of their last five road games against Southwest Division opponents that held a losing record.
The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in seven of their last eight games on the second leg of a back-to-back against Eastern Conference opponents.
The 76ers have covered the spread in four of their last five road games against Southwest Division opponents that held a losing record.

Matchup/League Facts

The Pelicans rank 30th in the league for defensive rating this season (120.0).
The Pelicans rank 29th in the league for point differential per game this season (-8.9).
The 76ers rank 30th in the league for rebounds per game this season (39.3).
The 76ers rank 30th in the league for opponent field goal percentage this season (49.0%).

Pelicans vs 76ers Prediction

The 76ers are still missing a host of players including Kyle Lowry, Joel Embiid, and Paul George, while the Pelicans have ruled out Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy once again. The 76ers have been one of the coldest teams in the league, they are missing all their best players and just got beaten up by the Hawks last night.

The Pelicans haven’t been that much better lately, as they’ve lost nine of their last 11 games, but they were more than competitive in a tough loss to the in-form Pistons last night. This is definitely a game I would rather stay away from, but the Pelicans almost took down the Pistons last night. I think they can get the win in this one if McCollum and Hawkins play like they did last night.

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Pistons vs Pelicans Prediction 3/23/25 NBA Picks Today

Randy Chambers — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 06:41:59 +0000

The New Orleans Pelicans and Detroit Pistons meet Sunday in NBA action at the Little Caesars Arena. Here’s a Pistons vs Pelicans Prediction. This article will include a Pistons vs Pelicans Pick.

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview

The New Orleans Pelicans lost to the Pistons, split with the Timberwolves, and they play the 76ers, Warriors, and Hornets next. The Pelicans have nothing to play for and have lost nine of their last 12 games.

The New Orleans Pelicans are averaging 110.3 points on 45.2 percent shooting and allowing 119.3 points on 48.5 percent shooting. Zion Williamson is averaging 24.6 points and 7.2 rebounds, while CJ McCollum is averaging 20.8 points and 3.8 rebounds. Trey Murphy III is the third double-digit scorer and Brandon Boston is grabbing 3.2 rebounds. The New Orleans Pelicans are shooting 34.8 percent from beyond the arc and 75.5 percent from the free-throw line. The New Orleans Pelicans are allowing 36.7 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 43.3 rebounds per game.

Detroit Pistons Betting Preview

The Detroit Pistons beat the Heat, lost to the Mavs, and they play the Spurs, Cavs, and Timberwolves next. The Pistons have been a .500 team over their last 12 games.

The Detroit Pistons are averaging 115.1 points on 47.7 percent shooting and allowing 112.9 points on 46 percent shooting. Cade Cunningham is averaging 25.7 points and 6.1 rebounds, while Malik Beasley is averaging 16.2 points and 1.7 assists. Tobias Harris is the third double-digit scorer and Jalen Duren is grabbing 10.3 rebounds. The Detroit Pistons are shooting 36 percent from beyond the arc and 77.8 percent from the free-throw line. The Detroit Pistons are allowing 36.4 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 45.3 rebounds per game.

Why the Detroit Pistons will win

The Pelicans have lost each of their last 10 games against Eastern Conference opponents that held a winning record.
The favorites have won each of the last eight games between the Pelicans and Pistons.
The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in eight of their last nine road games against teams that held a winning record.
The Pistons have covered the spread in each of their last five games as favorites following a loss.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win

The Pistons have lost each of their last nine day games following a road loss.
The Pelicans have won six of their seven previous games at Little Caesars Arena.
The Pistons have failed to cover the spread in each of their last nine home games against Western Conference opponents that held a losing record.
The Pelicans have covered the spread in four of their last five road games against the Pistons following a loss.

Matchup/League Facts

The Pistons rank 1st in the league for opponent rebounds per game this season (41.9).
The Pistons have missed the playoffs in five consecutive seasons – the equal-second-longest active streak in the NBA
The Pelicans rank 30th in the league for defensive rating this season (119.7).
The Pelicans rank 29th in the league for point differential per game this season (-9.0).

Pistons vs Pelicans Injury Report

The Pistons will be without Jaden Ivey and Tim Hardaway Jr.

The Pelicans will be without Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones, and Brandon Boston. Zion Williamson, Yves Missi, and Jose Alvarado are questionable.

Pistons vs Pelicans Prediction

The Pistons with a double-digit line is a bit rich, but they did smash the Pelicans last week by a score of 127-81 on the road. The Pelicans have lost eight of their last 10 games and are 3-7 ATS during that span. We’re also seeing key players on the injury report for the Pelicans, as there’s no real reason to try to win already eliminated from playoff contention.

The Pistons need to bounce back from an embarrassing loss to the Mavs, and there’s reason to, as they can still move up to a top-four seed in the East if they go on a winning streak. Assuming Alvarado, Zion, and others don’t play for the Pelicans, this should be a repeat of what we saw in New Orleans. I’ll lay the points with the Pistons.

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Timberwolves vs Pelicans Prediction 3/21/25 NBA Picks Today

Randy Chambers — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 07:04:32 +0000

The New Orleans Pelicans and Minnesota Timberwolves meet Friday in NBA action at the Target Center. Here’s a Timberwolves vs Pelicans Prediction. This article will include a Timberwolves vs Pelicans Pick.

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview

The New Orleans Pelicans lost to the Pistons, beat the Timberwolves, and they play the Pistons, 76ers, and Warriors next. The Pelicans look for two straight wins for the first time since February 25-27.

The New Orleans Pelicans are averaging 110.4 points on 45 percent shooting and allowing 119.1 points on 48.4 percent shooting. Zion Williamson is averaging 24.4 points and 7.3 rebounds, while CJ McCollum is averaging 20.9 points and 3.8 rebounds. Trey Murphy III is the third double-digit scorer and Brandon Boston is grabbing 3.2 rebounds. The New Orleans Pelicans are shooting 34.6 percent from beyond the arc and 76 percent from the free-throw line. The New Orleans Pelicans are allowing 36.6 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 43.4 rebounds per game.

Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Preview

The Minnesota Timberwolves lost to the Pacers and Pelicans, and they play the Suns, Pistons, and Nuggets next. The Timberwolves hope to avoid three straight losses for the first time since December 31 – January 4.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are averaging 113.4 points on 46.3 percent shooting and allowing 109.3 points on 45.9 percent shooting. Anthony Edwards is averaging 27.6 points and 5.8 rebounds, while Julius Randle is averaging 18.7 points and 4.7 assists. Naz Reid is the third double-digit scorer and Jaden McDaniels is grabbing 6.1 rebounds. The Minnesota Timberwolves are shooting 37.8 percent from beyond the arc and 79.2 percent from the free-throw line. The Minnesota Timberwolves are allowing 34.9 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 44 rebounds per game.

Why the Minnesota Timberwolves will win

The Pelicans have lost 18 of their last 19 road games against teams that held a winning record.
The Timberwolves have won seven of their last eight home games against Southwest Division opponents that held a losing record.
The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in eight of their last nine road games against Western Conference opponents that held a winning record.
The Timberwolves have covered the spread in six of their last seven home games against Western Conference opponents.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win

The Timberwolves have lost each of their last three games as home favorites against Southwest Division opponents following a loss.
The Pelicans have won each of their last six Friday games against the Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves have failed to cover the spread in 12 of their last 13 games as favorites following a home loss.
The Pelicans have covered the spread in five of their last six night games at Target Center.

Matchup/League Facts

The Timberwolves rank 1st in the league for Q4 win percentage this season (66.2%).
The Timberwolves rank 3rd in the league for opponent three-point field goals made per game this season (12.6).
The Pelicans rank 30th in the league for defensive rating this season (119.5).
The Pelicans rank 29th in the league for point differential per game this season (-8.5).

Timberwolves vs Pelicans Injury Report

The Timberwolves don’t have any players listed on their injury report.

The Pelicans will be without Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones, and Brandon Boston.

Timberwolves vs Pelicans Prediction

The Timberwolves should be motivated after just losing to the Pelicans as 13.5-point favorites, but they just lost to the Pels as double-digit favorites. In fact, the Timberwolves are coming off back-to-back losses as double-digit favorites. It’s hard to follow that up and lay this many points. The Timberwolves have played with their food all season, and it’s led to a 32-38-1 ATS record and an SU record that would have them in the play-in tournament if the season ended today.

The Timberwolves are 4-7 ATS in their last 11 games as a double-digit favorite, and they’ve outright lost four times this season as a double-digit favorite. This has nothing to do with the Pelicans, it has everything to do with not trusting the Timberwolves with big numbers. It’s Pelicans or pass.

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Timberwolves vs Pelicans Prediction 3/19/25 NBA Picks Today

Randy Chambers — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 06:58:28 +0000

The New Orleans Pelicans and Minnesota Timberwolves meet Wednesday in NBA action at the Target Center. Here’s a Timberwolves vs Pelicans Prediction. This article will include a Timberwolves vs Pelicans Pick.

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview

The New Orleans Pelicans lost to the Pistons and Spurs, and they play the Pistons, 76ers, and Warriors next. The Pelicans have lost seven of their last eight games and are one of two teams eliminated from playoff contention.

Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Preview

The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Jazz, lost to the Pacers, and they play the Suns, Pistons, and Nuggets next. The Timberwolves have won eight of their last nine games but are still currently in the play-in tournament.

Why the Minnesota Timberwolves will win

The Pelicans have lost each of their last 18 road games against teams that held a winning record.
The Timberwolves have won each of their last seven home games against Southwest Division opponents that held a losing record.
The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in each of their last eight road games against Western Conference opponents that held a winning record.
The Timberwolves have covered the spread in each of their last six home games against Western Conference opponents.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win

The Timberwolves have lost six of their last nine games as home favorites against Southwest Division opponents.
The Pelicans have won three of their last five games as road underdogs against the Timberwolves following a loss.
The Timberwolves have failed to cover the spread in each of their last five games after coming off overtime.
The Pelicans have covered the spread in four of their last five night games at Target Center.

Matchup/League Facts

The Timberwolves rank 1st in the league for Q4 win percentage this season (65.7%).
The Timberwolves rank 2nd in the league for Q2 opponent points per game this season (26.9).
The Pelicans rank 30th in the league for defensive rating this season (119.5).
The Pelicans rank 29th in the league for point differential per game this season (-8.7).

Timberwolves vs Pelicans Injury Report

The Timberwolves don’t have any players listed on their injury report.

The Pelicans will be without Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones, and Brandon Boston.

Timberwolves vs Pelicans Prediction

Thick line for a Timberwolves team that plays with its food a lot, and just lost to the Pacers at home as a double-digit favorite. It’s hard to figure out what you’re going to get from the Timberwolves night-to-night. With that said, the Pelicans are 2-8 SU and ATS in their last 10 games. The Pelicans have also lost 28 of their 34 road games.

The Timberwolves are also fighting to get out of the play-in tournament, and I’d assume they’ll be more focused after losing to the Pacers. The Timberwolves should win this game comfortably, but the Pelicans hanging around wouldn’t be shocking given Minnesota’s hit-or-miss vibes this season. I’ll still lay the points with the Timberwolves if forced to pick.

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Pelicans vs Pistons Prediction 3/17/25 NBA Picks Today

Randy Chambers — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 05:17:26 +0000

The Detroit Pistons and New Orleans Pelicans meet Monday in NBA action at the Smoothie King Center. Here’s a Pelicans vs Pistons Prediction. This article will include a Pelicans vs Pistons Pick.

Detroit Pistons Betting Preview

The Detroit Pistons lost to the Wizards and Thunder, and they play the Heat, Mavs, and Spurs next. The Pistons hope to avoid three straight losses for the first time since the end of January.

The Detroit Pistons are averaging 115 points on 47.5 percent shooting and allowing 113.2 points on 46 percent shooting. Cade Cunningham is averaging 25.9 points and 6 rebounds, while Malik Beasley is averaging 16.3 points and 1.7 assists. Tobias Harris is the third double-digit scorer and Jalen Duren is grabbing 10.4 rebounds. The Detroit Pistons are shooting 35.9 percent from beyond the arc and 77.9 percent from the free-throw line. The Detroit Pistons are allowing 36.8 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 45.4 rebounds per game.

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview

The New Orleans Pelicans lost to the Magic and Spurs, and they play the Timberwolves, 76ers, and Warriors next. The Pelicans have lost seven of their last eight games and are one of two teams eliminated from playoff contention.

The New Orleans Pelicans are averaging 110.8 points on 45.1 percent shooting and allowing 119 points on 48.4 percent shooting. Zion Williamson is averaging 24.2 points and 7.3 rebounds, while CJ McCollum is averaging 21.2 points and 3.7 rebounds. Trey Murphy III is the third double-digit scorer and Brandon Boston is grabbing 3.2 rebounds. The New Orleans Pelicans are shooting 34.9 percent from beyond the arc and 76 percent from the free-throw line. The New Orleans Pelicans are allowing 36.5 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 43.4 rebounds per game.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win

The Pelicans have won each of their last seven games against the Pistons.
The Pistons have lost seven of their last eight games at Smoothie King Center following a loss.
The Pistons have failed to cover the spread in five of their last six games against Southwest Division opponents that held a losing record.
The Pelicans have covered the spread in four of their last five home games following a loss.

Why the Detroit Pistons will win

The Pistons have won each of their last nine road games against teams that held a losing record.
The Pelicans have lost each of their last nine games against Eastern Conference opponents that held a winning record.
The Pistons have covered the spread in each of their last nine road games against teams that held a losing record.
The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in five of their last six games as home underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.

Matchup/League Facts

The Pelicans rank 30th in the league for defensive rating this season (119.4).
The Pelicans rank 29th in the league for point differential per game this season (-8.2).
The Pistons rank 1st in the league for opponent rebounds per game this season (42.0).
The Pistons have missed the playoffs in five consecutive seasons – the equal-second-longest active streak in the NBA

Pelicans vs Pistons Injury Report

The Pelicans will be without Dejounte Murray, Herbert Jones, and Brandon Boston. Yves Missi, Zion Williamson, and Kelly Olynyk are questionable.

The Pistons will be without Jaden Ivey.

Pelicans vs Pistons Prediction

The Pelicans are back to having an extended injury report, and it’s hard to take them seriously with, so many banged-up bodies. The Pelicans are 3-7 SU and ATS in their last 10 games. The Pistons are a young team trying to build winning habits, and they can’t afford to lose three straight games. The Pistons are 37-29-2 ATS on the season, while the Pelicans are 27-40-1 ATS. With health on its side and the Pelicans having most of their key players on the injury report, this should be a comfortable win for the road team. I’ll lay the points with the Pistons on Monday night.

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Spurs vs Pelicans Prediction 3/15/25 NBA Picks Today

Peter Tran — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 03:30:07 +0000

The New Orleans Pelicans invade the Frost Bank Center to take on the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night. Here’s a Spurs vs Pelicans Prediction. This article will include a Spurs vs Pelicans Pick.

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview

The New Orleans Pelicans have been in a real funk as they’ve lost five of their last six games overall. They will be hoping for a better effort after getting trampled by the Magic in a 113-93 home defeat on Thursday. Zion Williamson led the team with 20 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, Trey Murphy added 17 points while Jose Alverado chipped in with 12 points off the bench. As a team, the Pelicans shot 44 percent from the field and just seven of 25 from the 3-point line as they struggled to match the Magic from the start. They were never in the contest after getting outscored by 68-38 in the first half to trail by as many as 36 points at one stage.

San Antonio Spurs Betting Preview

Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs have been in a slump of their own as they’ve lost 13 of their last 16 games. They will be hoping to bounce back here after getting routed by the lowly Hornets in a 145-134 home defeat last night. Stephon Castle led the team in scoring with 26 points on 10 of 17 shooting as a starter, Devin Vassell added 22 points while Jeremy Sochan chipped in with 14 points off the bench. As a team, the Spurs shot 50 percent from the field and 21 of 46 from the 3-point line, which are impressive numbers. However, they played almost no defense and had already allowed 121 points after just three quarters to fall behind by 31 points before they finished with a flurry of points in garbage time. The Spurs will play the Lakers, Knicks, 76ers, Raptors, and Pistons next.

Why the San Antonio Spurs will win

The Pelicans have lost 18 of their 19 previous games at Frost Bank Center following a loss.
The Spurs have won each of their last eight Saturday games against the Pelicans.
The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six games as road favorites against Western Conference opponents.
The Spurs have covered the spread in five of their last six home games against Southwest Division opponents after losing as favorites.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win

The Spurs have lost each of their last 10 night games on the second leg of a back-to-back.
The Pelicans have won each of their last six games as favorites against Western Conference opponents.
The Spurs have failed to cover the spread in each of their last seven games on the second leg of a back-to-back against Western Conference opponents.
The Pelicans have covered the spread in 10 of their last 12 night games against the Spurs.

Total Points Facts

Each of the Spurs’ last eight games has gone OVER the total points line.
Eight of the Pelicans’ last nine road games have gone OVER the total points line.

Spurs vs Pelicans Prediction

The Pelicans are still missing some players with Dejounte Murray and Brandon Boston out again, while the Spurs are playing without Victor Wembenyama, De’Aaron Fox, and Charles Bassey. You couldn’t back either team with any confidence these days, but the Pelicans are still the more talented team. They were absolutely embarrassed by the Magic in their last outing, so I think they represent decent value as the slight favorites in this one. The Spurs are playing their second game of a back-to-back set, and they just got smashed by the lowly Hornets. Give me the Pelicans to get the win and cover at the short line.

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Pelicans vs Magic Prediction 3/13/25 NBA Picks Today

Peter Tran — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 03:25:22 +0000

The New Orleans Pelicans play host to the Orlando Magic at the Smoothie King Center on Thursday night. Here’s a Pelicans vs Magic Prediction. This article will include a Pelicans vs Magic Pick.

Orlando Magic Betting Preview

The Orlando Magic have been doing it tough as they’ve lost six of their last seven games overall and they will be hoping for a better effort after getting routed by the Rockets in a 97-84 road defeat on Monday. Paolo Banchero led the team with 25 points on 10 of 23 shooting while Franz Wagner chipped in with 15 points, seven rebounds, and five assists but no other player finished in double figures in scoring. As a team, the Magic shot just 32 percent from the field and eight of 32 from the 3-point line as they struggled right from the start. They scored just 19 points in the first quarter and just 16 points in the third quarter to finish with just 84 points. This is their third-lowest score in a game this season. The Magic will play the Timberwolves, Cavs, and Wizards next.

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview

Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have been in rough shape as they’ve lost five of their last seven games overall. But they will be feeling much better after they snapped a four-game losing streak with a 127-120 home win over the Clippers on Tuesday. CJ McCollum led the team with 23 points and seven assists, Zion Williamson tallied a triple-double of 22 points with 10 rebounds and 12 assists while Trey Murphy chipped in with 21 points. As a team, the Pelicans shot a healthy 55 percent from the field and 17 of 31 from the 3-point line as they kicked off the game with a great sense of urgency and were always in control after taking an early 21-point lead. It was a really balanced scoring effort also as the Pelicans had a total of seven players finishing in double figures in scoring.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win

The underdogs have won each of the Magic’s last four games at Smoothie King Center.
The Magic have lost five of their last six games as road favorites against Western Conference opponents.
The Pelicans have covered the spread in each of their last seven games as home underdogs when playing with a rest disadvantage.
The Magic have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six games when playing with a rest advantage.

Why the Orlando Magic will win

The Magic have won each of their last seven games at Smoothie King Center.
The Pelicans have lost each of their last seven games when playing with a rest disadvantage.
The Magic have covered the spread in each of their last seven games at Smoothie King Center.
The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in seven of their last eight games as home underdogs following a win.

Total Points Facts

Eight of the Magic’s last nine games as road favorites have gone UNDER the total points line.
Five of the Pelicans’ last six home games against Southeast Division opponents have gone OVER the total points line.

Pelicans vs Magic Prediction

The Magic are still banged up with Jalen Suggs and Moritz Wagner both out, while the Pelicans have ruled out Kelly Olynyk and Herbert Jones once again. The Magic could really do with a win just for their own confidence, but they’ve been struggling and didn’t look great in their loss to the Rockets, where they amassed just 84 points. The Pelicans are coming into this game in similar form, but they would’ve taken plenty of confidence from their upset win over the Clippers on Tuesday. I can see why the Magic have opened as slight favorites in this one, but I was impressed by the Pelicans in their last game. I think they are the stronger team, with McCollum and Williamson both starting to heat up. You can make an argument for either side, but I think the Pelicans represent great value as the underdog at home in this spot.

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FanDuel Best NBA DFS Picks: Clippers vs. Pelicans 3/11/25

Hans Geevers — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 15:15:32 +0000

The NBA presents FanDuel basketball fans with a regular season matchup featuring the Los Angeles Clippers and the New Orleans Pelicans. Let’s take a look at this game from a DFS perspective.

Before we dive into the Los Angels Clippers vs. New Orleans Pelicans game let’s review the rules for the FanDuel single game showdown contest.

FanDuel Single Game Contest Rules

Here are the single game contest rules. You have $60,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team MVP. The MVP accumulates 2x times the standard FanDuel fantasy points value.

The remaining four players in your lineup will be the star, pro, and flex plays. The star player will receive 1.5x the standard fantasy points value. The pro player will accumulate 1.2x the standard fantasy points value.

The final two flex positions will receive the standard points value. Having stated that, it is important for you to identify the correct player for your MVP position if you hope to win a FanDuel single game contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game contest, I highly recommend that you check out the FanDuel website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my FanDuel picks for tonight’s Los Angeles Clippers vs. New Orleans Pelicans matchup.

FanDuel NBA DFS Picks

MVP-James Harden, Point Guard, Los Angeles Clippers $15,500

Veteran point guard James Harden has established himself as one of the best guards in the National Basketball Association today. Having stated that, how has Harden performed from a statistical perspective? Let’s take a look at Harden’s game data from the 2024 NBA regular season to answer that question.

In the 61 games that James Harden has played for the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2024 NBA regular season, Harden is averaging an impressive 43.9 FanDuel points a game.

Looking closer at the data just presented, in the 61 games that James Harden has played this season, Harden has compiled a 39.4% field goal percentage, a 34% three-point percentage and an 87.3% free throw percentage.

More recently, in the Los Angeles Clippers thrilling 111-110 win over the Sacramento Kings two days ago, Los Angeles point guard James Harden played exceptionally well. Let me be more specific. James Harden amassed 29 points, nine rebounds, 11 assists and one steal in the Los Angeles Clippers victory over the Kings.

As I noted in the rules section above, selecting the correct player at the MVP position for a FanDuel NBA showdown lineup is absolutely vital if you hope to win a large field GPP (guaranteed prize pool) DFS contest. Keep that in mind as you construct your lineups for this one game DFS contest.

In my view, James Harden is the most likely player to post the most FanDuel points in this NBA regular season game. With that said, I am rolling with Los Angeles Clippers point guard James Harden at the MVP position for this one game FanDuel NBA Showdown contest.

Star-Ivica Zubac, Center, Los Angeles Clippers $13,000

In addition to point guard James Harden, center Ivica Zubac been a key contributor to the Los Angeles Clippers success on the offensive side of the basketball this season.

In the last 62 games that center Ivica Zubac played for the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2024 NBA regular season, Zubac is averaging 16.1 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 0.8 steals a game.

Additional flex plays I like to play well (FanDuel price noted): Karlo Matkovic, Forward (New Orleans Pelicans) $8,500: Kris Dunn, Guard (Los Angeles Clippers) $9,500.

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