The New Orleans Pelicans (5-17) travel to Staples Center Monday to take on the Los Angeles Clippers (11-9). Tip-off is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Pelicans vs. Clippers odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
The Clippers play their third straight game at Staples Center and hope for more luck Monday after losing and failing to cover in a 105-90 defeat to the Golden State Warriors Sunday. Los Angeles is led by star F Paul George and ranks third in points allowed per game with 102.7. The Clippers are 9-11 against the spread (ATS).
The Pelicans are led by F Brandon Ingram and are 9-13 ATS. New Orleans is coming off a 22-point road loss at the Utah Jazz Saturday — just one game after picking up a 98-97 victory at the Jazz Friday.
The Pelicans rank 26th in offensive and defensive rating and 27th in net rating (minus-7.2).
Pelicans at Clippers odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:45 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Pelicans +230 (bet $100 to win $230) | Clippers -300 (bet $300 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Pelicans +6.5 (-107) | Clippers -6.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 211.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)
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Pelicans at Clippers key injuries
Pelicans
- F Zion Williamson (foot) out
Clippers (not officially submitted)
- F Kawhi Leonard (knee) out
- F Nicolas Batum (health and safety protocols) out
Pelicans at Clippers odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Clippers 109, Pelicans 101
Money line
PASS on the money line.
While the Clippers are an enticing play, at -300, there’s just no value. The Pelicans are 2-10 on the road and likely won’t come out on top in this one so the +230 side is not great a smart gamble.
Against the spread
BET on the CLIPPERS -6.5 (-115) as they’re coming off an embarrassing loss and should be primed for a bounce-back game.
The Clippers are just too good defensively and are coming off giving up just 105 points to the most efficient offense in the league. L.A. should also have more success offensively against a weak Pelicans team than it did Saturday.
That’s going to be the difference in this game. The Pelicans also have the fifth-worst turnover rate while the Clippers force the seventh-most turnovers. That should play a huge factor.
The difference in defensive play is going to be what helps the Clippers cover here.
Over/Under
“LEAN” to the UNDER 211.5 (-115) as the better side of the total. The aforementioned turnover issue for New Orleans could come back to bite the Pelicans.
Despite having a high offensive rebounding rate New Orleans is in the bottom five in true shooting percentage. It just doesn’t get the job done offensively, either from the free-throw line or behind the arc.
New Orleans also ranked 18th in pace. With that in mind, I don’t expect them to score much. Both teams have missed 100 points in three of their last five games.
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