The New Orleans Pelicans (28-37) meet the Los Angeles Clippers (44-21) Saturday for a 6 p.m. ET tip-off. We analyze the Pelicans-Clippers NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
Pelicans vs. Clippers: Key Injuries
Clippers
- PF Montrezl Harrell (personal) out
- SG Lou Williams (isolating) out
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Pelicans vs. Clippers: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 2:15 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Clippers 122, Pelicans 119
Moneyline (ML)
Both teams are coming off 2-point losses on the opening night of the NBA restart. The Clippers (-227) lost to the Los Angeles Lakers, 103-101, and the Pelicans (+185) lost to the Utah Jazz, 106-104.
The Pelicans defense could not guard the Clippers at all this year: Los Angeles has scored 131.3 points per game in their three meetings this season. New Orleans is 1-2 against the Clippers; however, the only win came with LA missing SF Kawhi Leonard and PG Pat Beverley.
Motivation should be at a season-high for New Orleans. The Pelicans cannot afford to lose many more games if they have any hope of earning a playoff berth. Also, they are at their healthiest because the COVID-19 shutdown and Los Angeles will be without two key contributors (Harrell and Williams).
But, the payout isn’t big enough to back the Pelicans as dogs and I’m not spending that much on a Clippers moneyline when they are missing players. Plus, New Orleans is in a must-win spot. Those odds have an implied win probability of 37%. PASS on the moneyline.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
New Orleans was without F Zion Williamson in all of the regular-season meetings and sans SF Brandon Ingram in the third game, which the Pelicans covered. In fact, the Pelicans are 6-2 against the spread in the last eight meetings.
Speaking of missing players, the absences of Harrell and Lou-Will are major for Los Angeles. Against the Pelicans this season, Harrell averages 25.3 points per game and Williams averages 30.9 PPG.
It’s a must-win for the Pelicans and plus-five points is a lot when your opponent is without their third- and fourth-leading scorer. BET PELICANS +5.5 (-110).
Over/Under (O/U)
These squads have gotten buckets in their recent meetings. The Over is 4-1 in the last five Pelicans-Clippers games. Leonard will have his way with whoever New Orleans throws at him and SG Paul George looked locked-in Thursday.
We’ll get more than 15 minutes of Zion tonight and PG Lonzo Ball can’t play any worse than he did Thursday night (four points on 2-for-13 shooting). Their recent trend of high-scoring games should continue, so I lean OVER 232.5 (-110). It’s only a lean because of the Clippers’ awesome defense and their missing firepower.
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