Editor's note: this preview was written and published prior to the news at 3:45 p.m. ET that New Orleans star Zion Williamson will not play due to health and safety protocols. The spread for this game immediately shifted from Clippers -7.5 to -8.5, with the total dropping to 217.
The New Orleans Pelicans will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak when they face the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. Despite NBA betting odds showing Los Angeles as a big 7.5-point favorite, New Orleans should be viewed as a live dog here.
Find out why in our Pelicans vs. Clippers free picks and predictions, with tip-off set for 10:00 p.m. ET at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles Clippers Betting Preview
Injuries
Pelicans: JJ Redick G (Probable), Steven Adams C (Probable).
Clippers: No injuries to report.
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting Trend to Know
The Clippers are 2-6 ATS in their last eight home games. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Clippers.
Against the Spread (ATS) Pick
Early in the season, the Pelicans couldn’t stop a nosebleed. But New Orleans has really figured it out on that end of the floor, as the team is now fifth in the league in defensive rating. The Pelicans have lost each of their last three games, but the fact they are defending well is a step in the right direction. Eventually, this offense is going to have to come around. New Orleans simply has too much firepower to continue losing games in which the team is defending at a high level. And while they might not win this game outright, look for them to really dig in and compete here.
One way the Pels can compete is if JJ Redick shows up to play. Redick is no youngster anymore, but it’s still unlikely that he’ll shoot this poorly all year. Redick is shooting just 29.5 percent from three this season, despite shooting 45.3 percent last season. He did hit four of his seven threes in his last game, scoring 17 points in 19 minutes against the Charlotte Hornets. He got hurt in that game, but he is expected to be out there tonight. Look for him to have a little extra juice against his former team, too, and if he’s hitting shots, that will open up the rest of the floor for his teammates.
New Orleans has a spacing issue with most of its lineups, as Zion Williamson and Steven Adams are both non-shooting bigs. That makes things a little rough on the Pelicans, but Redick shooting well can make a big difference.
Zion can also be another X-factor in this game. He has the ability to get downhill and put a lot of pressure on Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, so he could tire them out or draw some fouls.
PREDICTION: Pelicans +7.5 (-110)
Over/Under Pick
Last year, three of the four games played between these teams went Over the total, with the one Under coming in the Orlando bubble. The other three games had an average of 255 points per contest, which is just an outrageous number.
Both of these teams have definitely improved defensively this season, but will they really slow the pace that much from how these games looked a year ago? Even the one game that went Under the total would have hit this Over, as there were 229 points scored in that one.
PREDICTION: Over 219 (-110)
Team Total Pick
This game should be higher scoring than expected and if the Pelicans are going to cover the spread, there needs to be some faith in their ability to put up points.
Also, New Orleans has scored at least 110 points in each of its last five games, so this number doesn’t seem too intimidating. The Clippers are very good defensively, but they have allowed at least 108 points in three of their last four games.
PREDICTION: Pelicans team total Over 107.5 (-102)
Pelicans vs Clippers Betting Card
- Pelicans +7.5 (-110)
- Over 219 (-110)
- Pelicans team total Over 107.5 (-102)
Did you know that if you parlayed today’s NBA Pelicans vs. Clippers picks, you could win $62.18 on a $10 bet?
Use our NBA parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
Where Can I Bet on the NBA?
You can bet on NBA odds at every online and casino sportsbooks, including NBA moneylines, spreads, Over/Under totals and a ton of NBA prop odds. Head over to our best-suggested sportsbooks for the top spots to bet on NBA odds in your area.
