Kings vs. Pelicans prediction and odds for Tuesday, April 4 (Pels stay hot)

The New Orleans Pelicans have been hot, putting themselves in a great spot to at least make the play-in tournament in the Western Conference.

The Pels take on the Sacramento Kings, who have clinched a playoff spot and are nearly locked in to the No. 3 seed in the West this season, on Tuesday night.

New Orleans is favored at home in this game, but the Kings have shown all season long that they can cover the road, going 11-7 against the spread as road underdogs.

With Zion Williamson still out, can the Pels pull off the win on Tuesday night?

Kings vs. Pelicans odds, spread and total

Kings vs. Pelicans prediction and pick

I love the Pelicans in this spot, as this game means a whole lot more to them than it does the Kings.

Sacramento has a four-game lead on the No. 3 seed with four games to play, and it is two games back of the No. 2-seeded Memphis Grizzlies.

The Kings are coming off an eight-point overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs in their last game, and they have struggled on defense as of late, ranking 18th in defensive rating over their last 15 games.

Meanwhile, New Orleans is playing some of its best basketball of the 2022-23 season, led by Brandon Ingram’s strong play.

Ingram is averaging 29.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game over his last 10 matchups, and it has pushed the Pels into the No. 8 spot in the West.

The team has won seven of its last 10, and I expect that strong play to continue at home, where the Pels are 25-13 this season.

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.