The Clippers have won nine of the last 10 games and look to extend their dominant run in the Western Conference by taking out the Southwest Division leaders in the game of the night in the NBA.
Zion Williamson and Naji Marshall are listed as questionable in this one, so New Orleans may be short-handed with two of their top forwards potentially sidelined. Larry Nance, Jr. would see extended run if both are out.
The Clippers have had exceptional luck over the past few weeks, riding a great run from Kawhi Leonard as the primary catalyst with James Harden and Paul George shining in supporting roles.
Their run has catapulted them to the top of the Western Conference standings despite the absence of starting center Ivica Zubac, who returned from a calf injury at the tail end of the Grammy trip. He missed nearly an entire month of action.
Handicapping Pelicans vs. Clippers betting odds, props and predictions hinges on your belief that Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas can thrive on the road if neither Williamson or Marshall is available.
Valanciunas typically doesn’t play more than 30 minutes, doing so only once in the last 19 games, but he might have to get extended run tonight if his teammates are ruled out.
Pelicans vs. Clippers odds: Point spread, moneyline, total
Here are the latest NBA betting odds for New Orleans vs. Los Angeles:
Pelicans betting news: New Orleans looks to match longest winning streak of season with upset
New Orleans (29-21 SU, 27-23 ATS) has won three straight games and comes off a 138-100 win over the Raptors. A victory here would match its longest winning streak of the season at four games and would be one of its best wins of the season since it has struggled against teams with winning records since defeating the Kings and Warriors at the beginning of January.
The Pels are off to their best start through 50 games since 2011. Ingram has been terrific, which is one reason you shouldn’t dismiss their chances of winning this game even if Williamson and Marshall don't play.
He scored 41 points against the Raptors in a game where they grabbed 17 offensive rebounds. This is the fifth of eight road games they’re playing during a grueling stretch that has seen them lose at Boston and Milwaukee before rebounding to win against division mates Houston and San Antonio.
New Orleans defeated the Clippers 116-106 on Nov. 24 behind Williamson scoring 32 points and Ingram adding 30. Both had five assists and combined to shoot 25-for-46 from the field.
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Clippers betting news: Surging squad looks to get even with Pels after In-Season Tournament loss
James Harden shot 2-for-8 the first time these teams met and has been more of a set-up man for Leonard and George in a dynamic that has worked out for the Clippers (34-15, 28-21). George scored 34 points on 14-for-30 shooting, while Norman Powell added 20 points off the bench.
One player who noticeably struggled in that first contest was Russell Westbrook, who went 1-for-8 from the floor and scored just three points and dished out two assists. He’s been great off the bench in being a difference-maker for LA, so he’ll likely be much better on Wednesday.
Harden did have four steals against the Pels and is coming off a 30-point night against the Hawks, knocking down six 3-pointers. He’s hit 11 of 18 shots from beyond the arc in wins in Atlanta and Miami, so he’ll look to stay hot now that he’s back home following the Grammy trip. The Clippers scored 47 points in the fourth quarter against the Hawks and shot 21-for-35 from 3-point range.
The Clips went 6-1 on the trip and covered in five of the contests, so they’re back in Los Angeles in fantastic form and are playing as well as any team in the league at the moment. Leonard said the team bonded on the road, and the on-court success means they’re back home in great spirits.
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Pelicans vs. Clippers Prop Picks
Harden topping assists () is a top play in this game since he continues to have great synergy with his teammates. He’s had at least 10 assists in three of his last five games and is also rebounding well. He had 13 assists in the most recent matchup with the Pels.
We’ll also ride the UNDER on Zubac’s rebounds (, ), since he’s just getting back in the swing of things and will have to deal with Valanciunas for longer than he ordinarily would have. In the first meeting between these teams, Zubac had just five boards, and in the Jan. 5 rematch he had eight boards in 23:35, but Valanciunas had 11 rebounds despite playing one fewer minute.
Pelicans vs. Clippers prediction ATS
Williamson is questionable but is likely going to suit up, so you may want to get on this earlier than usual to get the best number. This is likely to be a pretty competitive game if Ingram continues to thrive offensively and Valanciunas gets the better of Zuback in the post.
Harden hasn’t had much luck scoring the ball against New Orleans this season, shooting 4-for-15, while Westbrook has averaged just 5.5 points in the two contests. With Jose Alvarado around to be a pest on the defensive end, it’s going to be difficult for the Clippers x-factor to get going. Look for this game to come down to the final few possessions and take the points with the Pelicans.
Pick: Pelicans
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