Suns vs. Pelicans Prediction & Odds
The first-place Suns head to New Orleans to take on the first-place Pelicans Sunday afternoon at 3:30 PM ET. Can the Pelicans cover the 3-point spread as home favorites?
The Phoenix Suns are 16-10 on the season. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games. The Suns are 14-12 ATS on the year. The New Orleans Pelicans are 17-8 on the season. They’re 8-2 in their last 10 games. The Pelicans are 14-11 ATS on the year.
Game Matchup & Betting Odds
537 Phoenix Suns (+3) at 538 New Orleans Pelicans (-3); O/U 226
3:30 PM ET, Sunday, December 11, 2022
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Suns vs. Pelicans Public Betting Information
Our NBA Public Betting Information page indicates that 53% of public bettors are currently backing the Pelicans -3 in this contest. Do note that these numbers are subject to change so be sure to check the link so you’re receiving the most up-to-date public betting data.
Phoenix Suns DFS Spin
Suns leading scorer Devin Booker is officially listed as questionable for Sunday’s game with left hamstring tightness. Booker has played at least 25 minutes in each of Phoenix’s December games and he’s averaging 20.6 per game this month. For the season, Devin Booker is averaging 27.4 points per game on 47.8% shooting from the field. If he can’t play or is limited, Phoenix will need other players to step up and carry more of the scoring load.
One player that could pick up the slack for the Suns is fifth-year small forward Mikal Bridges. Bridges is third on the team in scoring, as he’s averaging 15.3 points per game. He’s shooting extremely well at all three levels, posting 49.5/43.3/88.9 field goal/three-point/free throw shooting percentages. Bridges is also averaging 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game through 26 contests this year. He may be an X-factor if Devin Booker sits or is hampered on Sunday.
New Orleans Pelicans DFS Spin
New Orleans small forwards Brandon Ingram and Herb Jones will both sit for Sunday’s game against Phoenix. Ingram has a toe injury and Jones is dealing with an ankle ailment. In their stead look for ninth-year shooting guard CJ McCollum to step up his game a little bit. McCollum is third on the team in scoring (17 points per game), leads the team in assists (5.9 per game), and is second on the club in three-pointers (2.0 made threes per game). McCollum has taken at least 11 field goal attempts in every game but one this year, and he’s a safe bet to shoot at least that many times on Sunday, which makes him a nice value play in DFS.
In case it needs to be said, you should always consider the Pelicans’ Zion Williamson in DFS. The former #1 overall pick is averaging 24.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game while making a blistering 60.5% of his field goal attempts. With Ingram and Jones still out, Zion will again likely be the #1 scoring option for New Orleans.
Suns vs. Pelicans NBA Betting Trends
Phoenix is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Phoenix is 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
New Orleans is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 1 day of rest.
New Orleans is 8-3 ATS in their last 11 home games against teams with a losing road record.
Suns vs. Pelicans NBA Prediction
The New Orleans Pelicans are on an absolute tear right now. They’ve won 11 of their last 13 contests and have won their last 6 games in a row. They even beat Phoenix on Friday night at home 128-117. The Pelicans are second in the NBA in average scoring margin (+7.1), third in the league in defensive efficiency (1.055), and sixth in the league in offensive efficiency (1.123). Even if Devin Booker is able to play in this game I still like New Orleans, because they’re at home and they’ve clearly been the better team so far this season. I’ll lay the points with the Pelicans.
NBA BETTING PREDICTION: NEW ORLEANS PELICANS -3
