NBA Lines: Best Zion Williamson bets for Pelicans vs. Cavaliers

Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans will take on the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight hoping to keep their modest playoff hopes alive.

The Pelicans have 20 games to prove that they belong in the NBA playoffs.

Of course, they could use the home stretch to show that the playoffs were always a pipe dream and they actually belong back in the NBA Draft Lottery.

The Pels are seven point favorites against the Cavs even though the game is being played in Cleveland, which shows you just how bad the Cavaliers really are and just how good Zion Williamson has been of late.

Zion had one of his best games of the season in the recent win over the Philadelphia 76ers and is ready to try and drag his injured team to the play-in games if he can.

This is a good game to bet on Zion Williamson, but there are other bets I like as well. I’d stay away from the points, as the Pels don’t play many close games. But betting them to win doesn’t get you very good odds, so this is a game to bet scores and Zion.

Pelicans vs. Cavaliers: The point total will be over 226

The Cavaliers have the 19th ranked defense in the NBA but have been even worse lately, allowing 135 in a recent loss to the Raptors.

The Pels have the 28th ranked defense and have been awful all season, so hammer the over in this one.

The Pels are 33-18-1 against the over this season, so this bet has been easy money and will likely continue to be.

Pelicans vs. Cavaliers: Zion Williamson will have over 4.5 assists

Lonzo Ball, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Josh Hart are all expected to miss this one and Kira Lewis  Jr. will be a game-time decision, which means Zion Williamson will be doing most of the ball handling and play making again in this one.

Zion had eight assists against the 76ers and has averaged exactly five per game over his last ten. Point Zion will be unleashed again tonight which should mean another big assist total.

Pels vs. Cavs: Zion Williamson will score fewer than 28.5 points

Betting against Zion Williamson is probably not a good idea, as he has been on fire over his last ten games.

In that time he has averaged 31.3 points, so why would I bet against him doing it again? There are a few reasons. Zion only scored 23 against the Cavaliers the last time these two teams played, though the Cavs are a different team now.

Zion also “only” averages 25.8 on the road. The final reason is that this game could be a blowout and Zion might sit for a big chunk of the 4th quarter, which could limit his opportunities.

*All bets and odds from the Action Network