Hornets vs. Pelicans Prediction
The first game of ESPN’s NBA double header on Friday takes us to New Orleans where the Pelicans are 6-point home favorites over the Hornets at 7:30 p.m. ET. Will Zion Williamson and Co. cover that number or is Charlotte the play as the road dog?
Game Snapshot
545 Charlotte Hornets (+6) at 546 New Orleans Pelicans (-6); o/u 217
7:30 p.m. ET, Friday, January 8, 2021
Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
TV: ESPN
Charlotte Hornets DFS Spin
Gordon Hayward hit 15-of-25 shots, four 3-pointers and 10-of-12 free throws for a career-high 44 points, seven rebounds, two assists, a steal, a block and just one turnover in Wednesday’s 102-94 win over the Hawks. Injury concerns have wrecked Hayward’s ADP over the last few seasons but he’s healthy and rolling for the Hornets. He’s scored in double figures in every game this season and has been doing a nice job with rebounds, assists, steals and 3-pointers, and has blocked a shot in three straight games. It’s too bad he can’t play against the Hawks every night.
New Orleans Pelicans DFS Spin
Zion Williamson shot 11-of-20 from the field and 10-of-15 from the line on Friday, finishing with a game-high 32 points, 14 rebounds, one assist and one block. The Pelicans went down by 20+ in the second quarter, but Zion bullied his way to the rim multiple times to keep them within hailing distance. He missed his only 3-point attempt, after going without an attempt in the opener, so it doesn’t look like that’s part of the plan for New Orleans. He can get to the free-throw line with ease, and fantasy managers just need to hope he converts — he shot 64.0% as a rookie and is a combined 11-of-19 through two games this season.
Hornets vs. Pelicans Betting Prediction
The Hornets are just 4-11 against the spread in their last 15 trips to New Orleans and are 2-5 against the number in their last seven games versus the Pelicans overall. That said, they’re also 10-2-1 against the spread in their last 13 games as an underdog, are 6-2-1 against the number in their last nine games coming off an ATS win and are 7-3-1 at the betting window in their last 11 games as a road underdog.
On the other side, the Pelicans are just 1-4 against the spread in their last five home games, are 1-4 against the number in their last five games as a favorite and are winless against the spread in their last four games as a home favorite.
NBA BETTING PREDICTION: CHARLOTTE HORNETS +6