The New Orleans Pelicans (25-30) are in the nation’s capital Friday for a 7 p.m. ET game with the Washington Wizards (21-33) Below, we analyze the Pelicans-Wizards odds and lines, with NBA picks and predictions.
NOLA’s three-game win streak was snapped Wednesday in a 116-106 loss to the New York Knicks. Over the last two weeks, the Pelicans are 4-4 straight up (SU) but just 3-5 against the spread (ATS) highlighted by an impressive home victory over the Philadelphia 76ers last Friday.
Washington just wrapped up a six-game road swing with back-to-back wins over the Utah Jazz Monday and the Sacramento Kings Wednesday. The Wizards were 4-2 SU and 5-1 ATS in those six games.
A fully loaded Pelicans team rolled the Russell Westbrook-less Wizards 124-106 at home Jan. 27 in the first meeting of the season.
Pelicans at Wizards: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:20 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Pelicans -145 (bet $145 to win $100) | Wizards +120 (bet $100 to win $120)
- Against the spread/ATS: Pelicans -2.5 (-110) | Wizards +2.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 242.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Pelicans at Wizards: Key injuries
Pelicans
- PG Lonzo Ball (hip) probable
- SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker (ankle) out
- SG Josh Hart (thumb) out
Wizards
- Nothing affecting the betting odds.
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Pelicans at Wizards: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Wizards 119, Pelicans 111
Money line (ML)
Both teams are hanging around the playoff race but the WIZARDS (+120) are playing much better basketball recently.
Also, both defenses rank in the bottom-10 in defensive rating, but Washington, according to CleaningTheGlass.com, has a winning record vs. teams in the bottom-10 of defensive efficiency (8-7) while NOLA has a losing record vs. such teams (8-11).
Slight “LEAN” to the WIZARDS (+120) for a quarter-unit because Washington plus the points is a better wager.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The Pelicans are just 10-17 ATS as a favorite and 5-7 ATS as a road favorite against teams with losing records whereas the WIZARDS +2.5 (-110) are 22-19 ATS as underdogs.
Furthermore, the market has steamed the Pelicans from getting 1.5 points on the open line to this listed number, making this a “wrong team favored” situation. In sports gambling, it pays to be a contrarian.
Bettors have been overrating NOLA the entire season because PF Zion Williamson is one of the surest buckets in the Association, but the Pelicans don’t know how to close out games.
BET WIZARDS +2.5 (-110) heavier than or instead of Washington’s money line.
Over/Under (O/U)
According to Pregame.com, nearly 90% of the money is on the Over, which has moved the total up from 241.5 points on the opener.
The previous Pelicans-Wizards game had a 228-point total and I don’t think Westbrook playing in this game equates to a double-digit total difference between meetings.
“LEAN” to the UNDER 242.5 (-110) for a half-unit.
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