New Orleans Pelicans vs. Phoenix Suns Prediction, NBA Odds
We’re back in Phoenix on Tuesday night as the Suns host the New Orleans Pelicans for Game 2 of this first-round series. The Suns dominated the Pelicans in Game 1, comfortably cruising to 110-99 win on Sunday.
Phoenix is a heavy 9.5-point favourite to win on the NBA odds, with a total of 221.5.
Pelicans vs. Suns NBA Betting Odds
With Sunday’s win, the Suns have now taken six of the last seven meetings between the teams. Sports Interaction bettors sense that trend continuing, with 85 per cent of action taking the Suns on Tuesday, while 75 per cent of bettors are taking the Under. The series will shift to New Orleans for Game 3 on Friday night and Game 4 on Sunday.
The Pelicans’ road woes continued in Game 1 and they now sit 18-25 away from Smoothie King Center this year. They’re 43-41-1 against the spread overall, but it’s worth noting they’ve failed to cover in five of their last six games against Phoenix. The total has gone Under in 12 of New Orleans’ last 16 games overall and eight of their last 10 on the road.
Phoenix has crushed teams at home this season, winning 33 of 42 games at Footprint Center. They’re 45-38 ATS overall, although they’ve failed to cover in five of their last six games as the favourite. The total has gone Under in the Suns’ last six games overall and their last five at home.
New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans went down early in Game 1 and could never really recover. They trailed 28-16 after the first quarter and 53-34 at the half. CJ McCollum had a team-high 25 points to go along with eight rebounds and six assists, but he struggled shooting, finishing just 9-for-25 from the field. Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas each had 18 points, while Valanciunas also added a monster 25 rebounds, including a season-high 13 offensive rebounds. The Pelicans out-rebounded Phoenix 55-35 and actually outscored the Suns 65-57 in the second half. That obviously didn’t lead to a win for New Orleans, but it’s something they can build on for Game 2 as they proved they can keep up with the NBA’s best regular season team.
Zion Williamson (right foot fracture) is not expected to play in this series. Williamson has not played a single game this season and he is reportedly at odds with the Pelicans about a return to action. The former first overall draft pick has been quoted as saying he is ready to return to the lineup now, while New Orleans appears to want him to rest and be ready for next season.
Phoenix Suns
It was the Chris Paul show the Suns in Game 1, with the veteran point guard dropping a game-high 30 points, including 19 in the fourth quarter, while adding seven rebounds and 10 assists. Paul was 12-for-16 from the field and 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. Devin Booker had 25 points and eight assists, while Deandre Ayton added 21 points and nine rebounds. Defensively, Ayton had four blocks and Paul had three steals. Mikal Bridges, a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year, finished with 11 points and was a major reason why New Orleans shots just 22 per cent in the first half. Phoenix was 47-0 in the regular season when leading after three quarters.
Landry Shamet (sprained left foot), who missed practice Friday, was cleared to play in Game 1, but didn’t end up with any minutes. The Suns elected to roll with a nine-man rotation with Cameron Payne, Cameron Johnson, Torrey Craig and JaVale McGee coming off the bench.
NO
PHO