New Orleans Pelicans (5-18) vs. San Antonio Spurs (11-12)
December 8, 2024 7:00 pm EDT
The Line: San Antonio Spurs -4.5; Over/Under: +225
(Get latest betting odds)
The New Orleans Pelicans and the San Antonio Spurs collide at the Frost Bank Center on Sunday night. Here’s a San Antonio Spurs vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction. This article will include a San Antonio Spurs vs New Orleans Pelicans Pick.
New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans have been ice-cold as they’ve lost 19 of their first 24 games of the season and they will be looking to bounce back after coming up short against the Thunder in a 119-109 loss last night. Dejounte Murray led the team with 26 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, Herbert Jones added 24 points while Trey Murphy chipped in with 16 points and five steals off the bench.
As a team, the Pelicans shot 48 percent from the field and 11 of 37 from the 3-point line as they struggled for most of the contest and trailed by as many as 30 points before they rallied in the second half to cut the margin to just seven points at one stage. The Pels will face the Kings and Pacers following this one.
San Antonio Spurs
Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs have been in a rut as they’ve lost four of their past five games and they will be hoping to snap a three-game skid after getting smashed by the Kings in a 140-113 loss on Friday. Julian Champagnie led the team with 30 points on eight of 16 shooting, Stephon Castle added 15 points with five assists while Chris Paul chipped in with 11 points, eight rebounds, and 13 assists.
As a team, the Spurs shot just 42 percent from the field and 14 of 41 from the 3-point line, but the real problems were on defense as they allowed the Kings to pour in 69 points in the first half and another 40 points in the fourth quarter to suffer one of their worst defeats of the season.
Why the San Antonio Spurs will win
- The Pelicans have lost each of their last 11 road games.
- The Spurs have won each of their last six games when playing with a rest advantage.
- The Spurs have covered the spread in each of their last six games when playing with a rest advantage.
- The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in seven of their last eight road games against Western Conference opponents.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Spurs’ last six home games against Southwest Division opponents has gone UNDER the total points line.
- Eight of the Pelicans’ last nine night games at Frost Bank Center have gone UNDER the total points line.
New Orleans Pelicans Player Facts
- Trey Murphy III ranks 8th amongst qualified Forwards for three-pointers made Per Game (2.6) this season.
- C.J. McCollum ranks T30th amongst qualified players for three-pointers made Per Game (2.6) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Spurs rank 1st in the league for Q3 win percentage this season (73.9%).
- The Spurs have missed the playoffs in five consecutive seasons – the equal-second-longest active streak in the NBA
- The Pelicans rank 30th in the league for points per game this season (104.5).
- The Pelicans rank 30th in the league for opponent field goal percentage this season (48.7%).
San Antonio Spurs vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction
The Pelicans are going to be shorthanded again with Zion Williamson, Jose Alverado and Brandon Ingram all listed on the injury report, while the Spurs are keeping an eye on Victor Wembenyama who is currently listed as questionable. The Pelicans have been doing it tough all season as they’ve been hit hard by injuries, but they showed plenty of fight to cut a 30-point deficit to just seven points in last night’s loss to the Thunder. Meanwhile, the Spurs have gone cold lately and they are coming off an ugly loss to the Kings where they allowed 140 points. The Pelicans are capable of pulling off the upset here, but the Pelicans are playing their second game of a back-to-back set, so I prefer a play on the Spurs at home at the short line.
