New Orleans Pelicans vs Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Picks, Odds, Predictions 3/12/21

The Cleveland Cavaliers and New Orleans Pelicans meet Friday in NBA action at the Smoothie King Center.

The Cleveland Cavaliers look for a win after splitting their last eight games. The Cleveland Cavaliers are averaging 104.6 points on 45.4 percent shooting and allowing 112.1 points on 48.2 percent shooting. Collin Sexton is averaging 24.1 points and 2.6 rebounds while Darius Garland is averaging 16.1 points and 5.9 assists. Jarrett Allen is the third double-digit scorer and Cedi Osman is grabbing 3.7 rebounds. The Cleveland Cavaliers are shooting 34.6 percent from beyond the arc and 72.5 percent from the free throw line. The Cleveland Cavaliers are allowing 39.8 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 43.8 rebounds per game.

The New Orleans Pelicans need a win after losing five of their last six games. The New Orleans Pelicans are averaging 115.5 points on 48.4 percent shooting and allowing 115.9 points on 47.6 percent shooting. Zion Williamson is averaging 25.6 points and 7.2 rebounds while Brandon Ingram is averaging 23.9 points and 5.1 rebounds. Lonzo Ball is the third double-digit scorer and Eric Bledsoe is dishing 3.8 assists. The New Orleans Pelicans are shooting 35.9 percent from beyond the arc and 73.2 percent from the free throw line. The New Orleans Pelicans are allowing 39.3 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 46.1 rebounds per game.

The Cavaliers are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 road games and 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall. The Pelicans are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 home games and 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games overall. The under is 6-2 in Cavaliers last 8 overall. The over is 26-5 in Pelicans last 31 overall. The Cavaliers are 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings in New Orleans and 2-6 ATS in the last 8 meetings.

The Cleveland Cavaliers headed into the break playing good basketball, and they’re winning their last five games by an average of 5.6 points while shooting 59 percent from the field. The New Orleans Pelicans continue to pile up the losses, not play a lick of defense and they continue to get respect from oddsmakers. There’s no reason to lay chalk with the Pelicans, and I doubt things change with them on the end of a back to back. I have to grab the points with the Cleveland Cavaliers.