Phoenix Suns vs New Orleans Pelicans betting tips and predictions for Friday’s NBA Game on ESPN. The shorthanded Pelicans hit the road to take on the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last season the Phoenix Suns. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
Phoenix Suns
After a somewhat worrisome start to the season, the Suns are right back on track where they are supposed to be after a couple of dominant wins over the Clippers and Warriors. Devin Booker has been a particular highlight averaging 32.5 points per game on a very efficient 53% shooting from the field. But, it’s not about the raw numbers with him, it’s the fashion in which he has asserted himself early this season, something we haven’t seen from him so far in his career.
Chris Paul has showed signs of slowing down, at least when it comes to scoring. Assist wise he is still doing his thing leading the NBA with an average of 10.3 per game, if he can keep that up he might become the oldest player in NBA history to lead the NBA in assists. The Suns have only one significant absence and that is Jae Crowder who is out due to personal reasons and waiting for the team to trade him away. Health could be one thing that gives the Suns the edge in tonight’s game.
New Orleans Pelicans
We are not even in November and the injuries are already piling up for the New Orleans Pelicans. Despite a 3-1 start to the season, there is worry that they could fall off quickly after a couple of key players got injured. Brandon Ingram is still out in concussion protocols, while Zion Williamson, Jose Alvarado and C.J. McCollum are all listed as questionable for tonight’s game. If the Pels are without 2 of those players I don’t really rate their chances against the team that eliminated them from the postseason last year.
Not having Ingram and Zion didn’t hinder them in the win over Dallas, but it’s almost impossible to sustain a winning record with a ton of injuries in the NBA. Jonas Valanciunas could be in line for another big game, he has averaged 16 points and 11.5 rebounds in just 25.8 minutes per game this season. It won’t be easy though as he goes up against Deandre Ayton who has had some really good games against him in that 1st round last season. The Pels are 3-8 SU in their last 11 visits to Phoenix, they’ve also covered the spread just 3 times during that stretch.
I am really feeling the Suns in this game, they dominated the defending champions by 29 points and prior to that they handled the Clippers without any major issues winning by 17 points. They should get the job done at home here, especially if the Pelicans don’t have 1 or 2 key players available due to injury. Back Phoenix.
Phoenix Suns vs New Orleans Pelicans Predictions & Odds
It all comes down to injuries when betting on the total in tonight’s game. If the Pelicans have their stars ready, then we could be in for a high scoring outcome. If not, then naturally they should end up with a lower total, similar to what we saw in the Dallas game when they scored a modest 113 points, compared to 121, 124 and 130 in the first 3 games before that. The Suns don’t have any scoring issues, in fact they are one of the rare teams in today’s NBA who rely mostly on defense to win games.
It just held the Warriors and Clippers to an average of 100 points in the last 2 games and for the season they own the 3rd best defensive rating at 103.5. They are also Top 10 when it comes to points allowed in the paint, opponent 2nd chance points, opponent points off turnovers and the list goes on. It’s no wonder that 6 of their last 9 games have all gone under the total. Head to head meetings have also leaned towards the under as 5 of the last 6 have cashed on that bet, I think tonight’s game has the potential to be a lower scoring one, so let’s back the under.
