The Los Angeles Clippers snapped a two-game losing streak with a 126-111 road win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. Finishing off a back-to-back, can the Clippers hang around as underdogs Friday night against the Pelicans? The Clippers are still within striking distance of the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets by just 3.5 games.
The Pelicans are three games back of the Clippers for the No. 4 seed in the west and have won five of their last seven games. New Orleans is trying to bounce back after Wednesday’s home loss to Cleveland. New Orleans lost back-to-back games just once in February. Here’s the betting breakdown of the conference clash with a best bet.
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Clippers vs. Pelicans odds, spread and total
Clippers vs. Pelicans how to watch
- Date: Friday, March 15
- Game time: 8 p.m. EST
- Venue: Smoothie King Center
- How to watch (TV): Bally Sports
- Clippers record: 42-23
- Pelicans record: 39-26
Clippers vs. Pelicans injury report
Los Angeles Clippers
- James Harden (shoulder): questionable
New Orleans Pelicans
- Dyson Daniels (knee): out
Clippers vs. Pelicans key players to watch
Clippers
Bones Hyland: The former first-round pick averages just 6.6 points per game, but was a key facilitator in the Clippers’ offense in Thursday’s win over Chicago, finishing with a 17-point, 11-assist double-double. He added 5 rebounds and 4 steals, as well. Hyland has scored in double figures in three of the last four games.
Pelicans
Zion Williamson: The former No. 1 overall pick has been great on the offensive end, scoring 83 points over the last three games. Williamson is shooting 60.6% from the field in five games this month while averaging 7.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists.
Clippers vs. Pelicans prediction and pick
The Clippers’ star-studded lineup has taken a hit with Harden questionable to play the second half of a back-to-back and Russell Westbrook (fractured left hand) hoping to return before the postseason tips off.
New Orleans is No. 6 in defensive rating and are eighth in the NBA in scoring, permitting just 111.2 points per game. New Orleans is also top-5 in opponents field goal percentage (46%). The Pelicans clean up in the paint with Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas leading a top-10 rebounding defense. The Clippers are the No. 2 three-point shooting team in the NBA, but New Orleans counters that as the No. 2 defense against triples.
The Clippers have not been good as an underdog, going 4-8 ATS while New Orleans has covered in four of its last five games. The Clippers have been dominant (11-5 ATS) with the rest advantage but just 5-12 ATS with the rest disadvantage. Lay the points with the healthier team with more rest.
Game odds update periodically and are subject to change.