New Orleans Pelicans vs Phoenix Suns NBA Picks, Odds, Predictions 2/19/21
2021-02-19 20:00:00 EDT
The Phoenix Suns invade the Smoothie King Center to take on the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.
The Phoenix Suns have been in great form lately as they’ve won nine of their past 11 games, but they will be eager to bounce back here after having their six-game win streak halted by the Nets in a 128-124 home loss on Tuesday. Chris Paul led the team with 29 points and seven assists on 12 of 20 shooting, Devin Booker added 22 points and seven assists, DeAndre Ayton scored 16 points while Jae Crowder chipped in with 15 points. As a team, the Suns shot a healthy 54 percent from the field and 16 of 37 from the 3-point line as they dominated the first half and led by as many as 24 points, before falling victim to a James Harden highlight reel as he torched them for 38 points to steal the game late.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have been in a bit of a rut lately as they’ve lost four of their last five games and they will be hoping to bounce back after falling just short to the Trailblazers in a 126-124 home loss on Wednesday. Zion Williamson led the team with 36 points on 12 of 18 shooting, Lonzo Ball added 21 points with five assists while JJ Redick chipped in with 16 points off the bench. As a team, the Pelicans shot 48 percent from the field and 15 of 32 from the 3-point line as they squandered an early 15-point lead, before missing on two open looks at the basket with time expiring. Brandon Ingram scored just 14 points on four of 12 shooting while Eric Bledsoe scored just 10 points.
Looking at the betting trends, the Suns are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 road games, 5-1 ATS in their last six games against a team with a losing record and 25-10 ATS in their last 35 games overall. The Pelicans are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 home games against a team with a winning road record and 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall.
Head to head, the over is 4-1 in the last five meetings in New Orleans and the over is 6-1 in the last seven meetings overall.
The Suns will be feeling so disappointed that they let the Nets slip from their grasp on Tuesday, but they’ve had plenty of time to mull over it as they haven’t played since then. The Pelicans have been struggling lately and are coming off a tough loss to the Trailblazers, so I’m expecting a close contest here. The Pelicans won the last meeting between these two teams, but the Suns have been in terrific form lately and I think they will bounce back here behind a big game from Paul or Booker.
