The second-half of Saturday's NBA double-header will feature a close matchup in the Western Conference between two contenders. The Los Angeles Clippers (41-37) will make the road trip to face the New Orleans Pelicans (39-38). Don't miss a second of this exciting showdown! Check out our NBA odds series for our Clippers-Pelicans prediction and pick.
The Los Angeles Clippers are currently in fifth-place in the Western Conference and will be looking to enter the playoffs healthy and ready for a run. They've been holding their own and have gone 6-4 in their last ten games coming in. Their last game was a road loss to the Grizzlies where they struggled to score most baskets. They'll look to win their first game against the clippers this season down 0-2 in the series.
The New Orleans Pelicans are eighth in the Western standings and have caught fire as of late, making them a dangerous team coming into the playoffs. They're winners of six of the last seven games and will be coming back home after a three-game road trip. Having beaten the Clipper twice this season, the Pelicans will be confident in remaining undefeated against them in front of the home crowd.
Here are the Clippers-Pelicans NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel
NBA Odds: Clippers-Pelicans Odds
Los Angeles Clippers: +3 (-106)
New Orleans Pelicans: -3 (-114)
Over: 226.5 (-110)
Under: 226.5 (-110)
How To Watch Clippers vs. Pelicans
TV: Regional Coverage
Stream: NBA League Pass
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET/ 5:30 p.m. PT
*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (click for a free trial)*
Why The Clippers Could Cover The Spread
The Clippers really struggled to shoot the ball in their last game as Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook combined for 16 points. They have, however, been able to see success when Westbrook is playing aggressively and dishing the ball out to open shooters. Nicolas Batum shined recently with eight three-pointers against the Bulls as Westbrook had 10 assists. If he's able to play smart and prioritize passing over getting his own shots, the Clippers' offensive will thrive as a result.
The Clipper have been a decent away team at 21-18 ATS. They're 8-4 in their last 12 games, but haven't faired well in their meetings with the Pelicans. The Clippers will have to see an aggressive scoring attack from Kawhi Leonard. Look for Norman Powell to try and get going from three. Each of their two losses to the Pelicans have been by double-digits, so it's interesting to see the spread this close.
Why The Pelicans Could Cover The Spread
The Pelicans are playing great basketball and recently beat the top-seeded Nuggets 107-88. In that game, Brandon Ingram went off with a 31-point triple-double as they beat Denver without Nikola Jokic. It gives them a ton of confidence as Ingram continues to add to his massive totals. They're shooting a solid 48% from the field as a team and would benefit greatly from seeing CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy III have a good night shooting from three. Being at home after a long road trip will be a big boost for them as well so look for the Pelicans to get to a rhythm early.
The Pelicans have been a great home team at 24-13 SU. In those games, they're 21-16 ATS. They'll be working with a short spread here so they'll have a great chance to cover at home, especially if we see a late-game fouling situation. If Ingram is guarded by Kawhi Leonard, look for him to get his teammates involved in the scoring. The Pelicans have been shutting teams down on defense, so look for them to frustrate the Clippers as the game wears on.
Final Clippers-Pelicans Prediction & Pick
Both teams will prove to be dangerous in the playoffs if healthy and match up very well here in this one. While Russell Westbrook has been playing exceptionally in recent games, the Clippers will suffer if he has an off-night. New Orleans is playing very balanced on the defensive end and has been seeing a ton of success in their offense. At home, let's take the Pelicans with the prediction as they continue to be the hotter team.
Final Clippers-Pelicans Prediction & Pick: New Orleans Pelicans -3 (-114)
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