The New Orleans Pelicans are hanging on by a thread to one of the final playoff spots in the Western Conference. Several teams are clumped together and the Pelicans’ fate could be decided with how they play in the final few games down the stretch of the regular season.
One team chasing New Orleans for a playoff spot is the Los Angeles Clippers, who will host New Orleans in one of the final games of the season early next week. The Clippers are the slightly inferior team but have the home court advantage so they figure to be favored.
Los Angeles is two games outside of the top eight so this one is a must-win to keep its playoff dream alive. The Pelicans and Clippers both know how much this one means and there will be tension in the air as they face off in NBA basketball wagering.
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Odds Analysis
The Pelicans are 44-34 straight up and 41-36-1 against the spread. New Orleans has done a solid job on the road this year, covering in 23 of 38 attempts. The Pelicans are 17-18 against the spread as the underdog.
The Clippers are 42-36 straight up and also 42-36 against the spread. Los Angeles has covered in 18 of 38 attempts at home this season. The Clippers are 22-17 against the spread as the favorite on the year.
Matchup To Watch
Anthony Davis vs. DeAndre Jordan -- Davis, the Pelicans’ uber-talented center, may be the most gifted offensive big man in the NBA. He is putting up monster numbers this season, averaging 28.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game to help his team stay afloat even after it lost fellow star forward DeMarcus Cousins to a season-ending injury.
Davis will have his hands full in this one as he faces off against an elite defender in the Clippers’ Jordan. He is averaging 15.4 rebounds and nearly a block per game, a huge deterrent in the paint when others look for room for high-percentage shots.
The Pelicans are very reliant on Davis putting up big numbers each game as they don’t have very many natural scorers around him. If Jordan can keep him somewhat in check, it would give Los Angeles a great shot at coming away with the victory in this one.
Key Stat
Four. That’s the number of teams that currently sit within one game of the Pelicans in the standings. New Orleans is the No. 7 seed presently, with the Spurs and Thunder right ahead of it and the Nuggets and Timberwolves right behind.
The Pelicans can clinch a playoff berth with a strong finish, but there is a possibility of falling into the lottery with some losses down the stretch. The Clippers are going to have to put together a great finish and then get some help to make the playoffs. This is a must-win game for Los Angeles.
Free NBA ATS Picks
If the Clippers lose before this one, they would basically be eliminated, and the focus might not be there. The Pelicans will have plenty to play for regardless of other results and should come in motivated.
However, this is not a good matchup for New Orleans as long as Jordan can stay out of foul trouble and do a solid job guarding Davis. The Clippers have the superior depth and the home court advantage, and that should equate to a victory in this one in NBA basketball betting.
The Pelicans will have to sweat out the end of the season with a loss in this one as they hope to sneak into the Western Conference playoffs.
NBA Odds: Clippers 113, Pelicans 108
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