Pelicans vs. Knicks NBA expert prediction and odds for Tuesday, Feb. 27 (NOLA favored on road)

The New Orleans Pelicans are looking to complete a season sweep of the New York Knicks on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. 

These teams faced off early on in the 2023-24 season – New Orleans’ second game – with the Pelicans putting on a defensive clinic in a win. 

New York’s roster looks much different in this game due to trades, but the team is also down three starters in OG Anunoby, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson. Plus, the Knicks almost blew a double-digit lead against the Detroit Pistons on Monday night, an ominous sign for the team's chances of moving up in the standings in the East while Randle and company are out. 

New Orleans enters this game as the No. 6 seed in the West, but it has dropped back-to-back games. Can the Pels get back on track on the road? 

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Here are the latest odds and my best bet for this matchup: 

Pelicans vs. Knicks odds, spread and total

Spread

• Pelicans -2.5 (-110)
• Knicks +2.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• Pelicans: -135
• Knicks: +115

Total

• 218.5 (Over -110/Under -110)

Odds courtesy of Bet365.

Pelicans vs. Knicks how to watch

• Date: Tuesday, Feb. 27
• Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
• Venue: Madison Square Garden
• How to watch (TV): MSG, Bally Sports New Orleans
• Pelicans record:
• Knicks record: 

Pelicans vs. Knicks injury reports

New Orleans Pelicans injury report

• Jose Alvarado – out
• Dyson Daniels – out
• Malcolm Hill – out
• EJ Liddell – out
• CJ McCollum – questionable
• Zion Williamson – questionable
• Cody Zeller – available

New York Knicks injury report

• Not submitted yet

Pelicans vs. Knicks key players to watch

New Orleans Pelicans

Zion Williamson: The former No. 1 overall pick has expressed his affinity for Madison Square Garden before, and he killed the Knicks earlier this season, scoring 24 points on 12-of-17 shooting in a New Orleans win. Over his last 11 games, Williamson is averaging 24.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game while shooting 55.3 percent from the field. 

New York Knicks

Jalen Brunson: Brunson turned in yet another huge scoring game on Monday, dropping 35 points and two clutch buckets down the stretch to beat the Pistons. Brunson now has 69 points in his last two games, and he’s also recorded 21 assists over that stretch. The All-Star guard is averaging 27.7 points and 6.7 assists per game this season. 

Pelicans vs. Knicks prediction and pick

The injury report for both sides will be key before betting on this game. 

Pelicans bettors will want to make sure that at least one (hopefully both) of Zion and McCollum suits up in this game, while the Knicks could sit some players on the second night of a back-to-back. 

New York has been playing with a shortened rotation for quite some time, and it’s starting to catch up with the Knicks. 

The team ran out of gas against Boston on Saturday, and the Knicks allowed the Pistons to nearly pull off a massive upset win last night. New York is 3-4-1 ATS as a home underdog this season, and it’s also just 4-6 ATS on the second night of a back-to-back. 

New Orleans hasn't exactly thrived as a road favorite (5-8 ATS), but the team does have a win over the Knicks earlier this season. 

After watching several key players play big minutes for New York on Monday, I wonder if the team can bounce back in this spot. I lean with New Orleans to cover the short spread at MSG. 

Pick: Pelicans -2.5 (-110)

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

Find Peter Dewey's NBA betting record here (futures included). You can also follow my daily plays on BetStamp here.