New Orleans Pelicans at Charlotte Hornets odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Monday’s New Orleans Pelicans at Charlotte Hornets and lines, with NBA expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The New Orleans Pelicans (30-41) play the second of a back-to-back Monday against the Charlotte Hornets (36-35) at the Spectrum Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Pelicans vs. Hornets odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.

NOLA has won 3 of its last 4 games — 3-1 against the spread (ATS) — including back-to-back road upsets at the San Antonio Spurs Friday (124-91) and the Atlanta Hawks Sunday (117-112).

Charlotte is on a 4-game winning streak (4-0 ATS) with victories over the Pelicans March 11 (142-120), the Oklahoma City Thunder last Monday (134-116), the Hawks Wednesday (116-106) and the Dallas Mavericks Saturday (129-108).

The Hornets clobbered the Pelicans earlier this month in Charlotte but NOLA was without its top-two scorers in C.J. McCollum and Brandon Ingram.

Pelicans at Hornets odds, spread and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:08 p.m. ET.

  • Money line (ML): Pelicans +190 (bet $100 to win $190) | Hornets -240 (bet $240 to win $100)
  • Against the spread: Pelicans +5.5 (-107) | Hornets -5.5 (-115)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 233.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)

Pelicans at Hornets key injuries

Pelicans

  • PG Devonte’ Graham (hip) questionable
  • SF Brandon Ingram (hamstring) questionable

Hornets

  • None

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Pelicans at Hornets odds, lines, picks and predictions

Prediction

Pelicans 119, Hornets 115

Money line

SPRINKLE on the PELICANS (+190)  because I like NOLA getting the points in this spot and this would be a juicy ticket to have in your account if Ingram can return to action Monday.

However, the Pelicans have two strength-on-weakness edges they can exploit on the glass and in transition.

Both teams get out in transition at a top-10 rate, but NOLA has a lot better offensive efficiency in the fastbreak and the Pelicans have the best defensive efficiency in the fastbreak.

Furthermore, NOLA has the fourth-highest offensive rebounding rate and scores the fifth-most second-chance points per game (PPG). Charlotte has the third-worst defensive rebounding rate and allows the most second-chance PPG.

I’m only SPRINKLING on the PELICANS (+190)  since NOLA plus the points is the sharper play.

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Against the spread

Definitely BET the PELICANS +5.5 (-107)  heavier than or instead of their ML because the Hornets -5.5 (-115) feels like a trap line considering Charlotte’s 22-point beatdown of NOLA just 10 days ago.

Given Ingram and Graham’s “questionable” game statuses, the Hornets should be at least a 7-point favorite. Seeing Charlotte at the price makes me think there’s a decent chance Ingram is back in the lineup for NOLA.

Another reason this price feels off is because of how terribly the Pelicans perform on zero rest days (2-10 SU and 5-7ATS) and how profitable the Hornets are with a rest advantage (10-6 SU and 10-5-1 ATS).

Also, this is just a better spot for the Pelicans who are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games as road underdogs and 5-0 ATS in their last five visits to Charlotte. While the Hornets are 6-7 ATS at home versus teams with a losing record and 2-4 ATS as 5-to-7-point favorites.

The PELICANS PLUS THE POINTS  is my favorite wager in this game.

Over/Under

PASS  because my prediction aligns with the projected total hence there’s no value for me in this number. For what it’s worth, NOLA is 30-41 O/U (13-22 O/U on the road) and Charlotte is 35-35-1 O/U (16-18-1 O/U).

If anything, I’d play the Under despite what my score says since the previous Pelicans-Hornets went Over the total by 36 points and the total has been lowered from the opener after being hit by sharp money.

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