The New Orleans Pelicans visit the Los Angeles Clippers in the final play-in game before the bracketed and NBA playoff series begin. Tip-off is set for 10 p.m. ET between the two teams.
The Pelicans (37-46) advanced from the nine seed with a 113-103 win over the San Antonio Spurs. Los Angeles (42-41) lost 109-104 at Minnesota to force a win-or-go-home clincher for the eight seed and a series with the Phoenix Suns.
This season the Pelicans took the first two games of the season series before the Clippers took a 119-100 win on April 3 with Paul George in the lineup.
Injury reports show sharpshooting Luke Kennard is questionable with a hamstring issue for the Clippers. Zion Williamson is out indefinitely with a foot issue for the Pelicans, and has had a mostly absent presence in the public eye this season.
The line opened at Clippers -4 with an over/under of 216. Each have moved a half-point to Clippers -3.5 with an over/under of 215.5 as of this writing.
Los Angeles Clippers Betting Preview: Keep the Efficiency
Los Angeles had seven players score in double figures in the recent meeting between the two teams. The Clippers have so many weapons offensively and are balanced defensively with great efficiency on both ends of the court.
L.A. is third in three-point shooting, converting 37.4% of such attempts. That is fueled by Kennard, who converts at a 44.9% clip.
Defensively they are top-seven in field goal and three-point efficiency. They force teams to convert 45.0% of field goal attempts and 34.5% of 3-point attempts.
George has been pretty good since returning after 43 games off due to an injury. He’s scored at least 20 points three times, including a high of 34, to close the season. What he adds on both ends is a huge lift to a veteran squad that gained experience in his absence.
New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview: Limit Possessions
New Orleans is one of the least efficient teams in the NBA this season, but rebounding will go a long way in determining who wins this game. The Pelicans are third in defensive rebounding, holding teams to 41.8 per game, and 11th in grabbing 45.2 rebounds per game.
Particularly hitting the offensive glass will be key. The Pelicans are 23rd in field goal efficiency at 45.7% and 27th in 3-point efficiency at 33.2%.
The big three of Brandon Ingram, C.J. McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas, who all averaged 17.9 points or better during the regular season, will need some help if they’re going to upset the Clippers.
Pelicans-Clippers Betting Prediction
The Clippers were 25-16 at home this season and had records of 41-41 against the spread and 38-41-3 on over/unders. New Orleans was 17-24 away from home with records of 41-40-1 against the spread and 32-48-2 on over/unders this season.
As of now, 66% of public money is on the Clippers to cover while 62% of the money is on the over. All signs point toward the Clippers winning, but the Pelicans are 38-17 against the spread over the last 55 meetings between the two teams.
We’ll still take Clippers -3.5.
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