New Orleans Pelicans vs. LA Clippers Betting Prediction 2/7/24

New Orleans Pelicans (29-21 SU, 28-22 ATS) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (34-15 SU, 28-21 ATS)

When: Wednesday, February 7th, 10:00 PM (ET)

Where: Crypto.com Arena, CA, Los Angeles

TV: ESPN

Point Spread: NO +6.5/LAC -6.5

Total: 233.5

Money Line: New Orleans Pelicans +220/-274

Notable Injuries

Pelicans

• Zion Williamson (Questionable) Foot
• Naji Marshall (Questionable) Back

Clippers

• Moussa Diabate (Out) Hand

The Western Conference-leading Clippers (-274) are 6.5-point favorites over the Pelicans (+220) in a matchup set to tip at 10:00 ET. Los Angeles is on a four-game win streak and has a record of 34-15, while New Orleans has won three straight and is 29-21.

ESPN will have the TV coverage from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Recent Form

The Pelicans have won three straight games and are currently 7th in the Western Conference with a record of 29-21. In the Southwest Division, they are in 1st place.

As the underdog, the Pelicans have a record of 12-11 this season and are 14-9 ATS as the underdog. Today, they are getting 6.5 points on the spread.

In their most recent game, the Pelicans defeated the Raptors by a score of 138-100. The O/U line for that game was 232 points, and New Orleans covered the spread as 11-point favorites.

This season, the Pelicans have an O/U record of 24-26, and their games have averaged 229.5 points per game. Today’s O/U line is set at 233.5.

In non-conference games, the Pelicans are 9-4 compared to 20-17 against Western Conference opponents. On the road, they are 14-11 straight up and 13-12 ATS.

The Clippers have won four straight games and are 34-15 overall, which is the best record in the Western Conference. In their last game, they defeated the Hawks by a score of 149-144.

This season, the Clippers have an ATS record of 28-21, including going 14-9 ATS at home and 14-12 ATS on the road. They have covered the spread in their last three home games and have an average scoring margin of +8.7 points per game at home.

As the favorite, the Clippers are 33-7 this season and have an average scoring margin of +10.1 points per game. Today, they are favored by 6.5 points and have gone 26-14 ATS as the favorite.

On average, the Clippers’ games have seen 231.1 points scored this season, which is lower than today’s O/U line of 233.5. Their over/under record for the season is 23-26.

In the Western Conference, the Clippers are 21-11 against other teams and have gone 13-4 in non-conference games. The Pelicans are their opponent today.

The Historicals

Over the last 5 head to head meetings, the Pelicans have averaged 115 points per game compared to 106 for Los Angeles. This has led to an ATS record of 4-1 for New Orleans. A combined average of 221 points per game was achieved in these matchups, leading to an over-under mark of 2-3.

Analysis

When it comes to scoring, the Pelicans are 13th in the league at 116.9 points per game. They have scored 117.0 points per game at home compared to 116.8 on the road.

So far this season, the Pelicans have outscored the NBA scoring average in 52% of their games. In terms of pace, they are 18th in the league at 98.3 possessions per game.

One area where the Pelicans have been successful is their field goal percentage, as they are 9th in the league at 48%. From beyond the arc, they are 6th in three-point shooting at 37%.

At this time, the Pelicans’ defense is positioned 9th in the NBA, permitting 112.6 points per game. In terms of two point field goal attempts, the Pelicans defense has allowed a shooting percentage of 56.1% while allowing 34.2% from downtown.

When it comes to scoring, the Clippers are 6th in the NBA at 118.8 points per game. At home, they are 11th in the league at 118.7 points per game. In terms of field goal percentage, the Clippers are 4th in the NBA at 49%. From three-point range, they are 1st in the league at 39%.

So far this season, the Clippers have outscored the NBA scoring average in 57.1% of their games. In terms of pace, they are 26th in the league at 97.2 possessions per game. In terms of assists, they are 17th in the NBA at 26.3 per game.

When it comes to free throws, the Clippers are 10th in the league in free throws made at 18.6 per game. In terms of offensive rebounds, they are 17th in the NBA at 10.4 per game.

At this time, the Clippers’ defense is positioned 8th in the NBA, permitting 112.3 points per game. The Los Angeles defense has allowed opponents to shoot 35.6% from beyond the arc this season. Opposing teams are also hitting 46.5% of their field goal attempts vs. Los Angeles.

Betting Trends

• Across their ten previous road games, New Orleans has an ATS mark of 6-4. Their straight up record in these matchups was 6-4 while averaging 119 points per game.
• Across their last three home contests, Los Angeles has been good against the spread posting a mark of 2-1. Their overall mark in these games was 3-0, while averaging 129 points per game.
• Spanning across their last three games as the betting underdog, the Pelicans have gone 2-1 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 1-2.
• Going back to their previous ten games as the favorite, Los Angeles has an ATS mark of 8-2 while going 9-1 straight up.

Joes Pick To Cover The Spread

The key player to watch on the injury report is Zion Williamson, as he is currently questionable with a foot contusion. However, even if he is able to play, I’m still taking the Clippers to pick up the win and cover. Coming into the game, the Clippers are 2nd in offensive efficiency, and I see the Pelicans struggling to keep up.