Pelicans odds vs. Kings: New Orleans must avoid the trap

The New Orleans Pelicans will return home after a successful two-game road trip to take on the Sacramento Kings.

The Pels notched impressive wins over the Suns and Lakers, the latter being a blowout over reeling Los Angeles.

The Pels are now tied for the 10th spot in the Western Conference and just two games behind the Lakers for the 9th and a chance to gain ground tonight after the Lakers lost to the Mavs last night.

The Kings are three games behind the Pelicans and have won just four of their last 10 games even after the addition of Domantas Sabonis.

New Orleans is playing some of their best basketball of the season, as CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram continue to gel and the bench roles are more clarified.

This is a big one for the Pelicans, as they can gain a half game on the Lakers and the Trail Blazers will be playing the Suns, so they have a good chance to gain ground there as well.

But the Kings can’t be overlooked even though they have an 8-22 record on the road this season. This is a classic “trap game” for New Orleans, which is where veteran CJ McCollum’s experience will come in handy.

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Sacramento Kings: Odds, spread, over/under and best bets

According to WynnBET, the Pelicans are 5.5 point favorites at home tonight against the Kings. The Pels haven’t been favored often this season, so this is a game they really need to win.

The money lines are set at -250 for New Orleans and +200 for Sacramento, so I would take the Pels to cover the spread and get the better odds.

The over/under is set at a whopping 234.5, the highest of the season for New Orleans. These two teams average around 217 combined points on the season and allow 225, so the books think this is going to be a shootout with little defense.

I do think it will be high scoring, but the Pelicans have snuck up to 15th in the NBA in points allowed per game and have let up just 107.3 over their last three games.

I like New Orleans to win the game, cover, but for the score to be under 234.5 combined. New Orleans 120, Sacramento 110 seems about right.

De’Aaron Fox has been hot since the trade deadline, so he will be the Pels’ primary focus. It will be interesting to see if Herbert Jones is given the task of guarding him early. I could also see Jose Alvarado getting more minutes in this one, as he can give Fox problems defensively or at least wear him out.

McCollum and Ingram are still the best bets in daily fantasy and I will continue to push Jaxson Hayes, who is due for a big breakout game. With Jonas Valanciunas dealing with Sabonis, Hayes could grab a lot of weak side rebounds for put backs against the smaller Trey Lyles, who is not a great defender. Richaun Holmes is listed as questionable, and if he is out, Lyles will have the primary duties at the four.

Lyles can shoot a bit and loves to get bigs to bite on his pump fake though, which will be something to watch for Jaxson Hayes, who needs to keep disciplined defensively to stay in the game.

How to watch Pelicans vs. Kings

New Orleans will tip off with Sacramento at 7:00 PM CT and you can watch on Bally Sports New Orleans, listen on ESPN 100.3 or head down to the Smoothie King Center if you are local and make some noise in person.