Friday, March 3, 2017

Smoothie King Center

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The San Antonio Spurs travel to Smoothie King Center to play the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, March 3, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has San Antonio as 6 point favorites.

The come into this game with an overall record of 46-13. They are 1st in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 8.5 as they are averaging 106.8 points per game while giving up 98.3 per contest. The Pelicans have an overall record of 24-37. They currently are 5th in the Southwest Division. They are averaging 103.2 points per game and surrendering 106.6, good for a point differential of -3.4.

Lamarcus Aldridge comes into this contest averaging 17.2 points per game while playing 32.2 minutes per night so far this season for the Spurs. He pulls down 7.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is currently at 82%. Kawhi Leonard averages 25.9 points per game in 33.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.3 assists per contest and 5.9 rebounds per game for San Antonio. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 89%.

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Demarcus Cousins averages 27.6 points per game while playing 34.1 minutes per contest this year for the Pelicans. He grabs 10.8 rebounds per game and has 4.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage currently is at 77%. Anthony Davis averages 28.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 36.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 11.9 rebounds per contest and 2.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is 80%.

San Antonio averages 106.8 points per contest this season which ranks them 11th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 8.44 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team which has them ranked 3rd. Behind the arc they shoot 40% which is good for 1st in the league. They average 43.8 rebounds per game and 23.9 assists per game which ranks them 16th and 6th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 22nd with 13.3 per game. The Spurs allow 98.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 2nd in the league. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc ranking them 4th and 3rd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 41 rebounds a game which ranks 4th and they give up 21 assists per contest which puts them in 6th place in the league. They force 14.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 20th in the league.

New Orleans averages 103.2 points per game this year which ranks them 21st in the league. Their average scoring margin is -3.39 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team which has them sitting in the 22nd spot in the league. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 21st in the NBA. They average 43.9 rebounds per game and 22.4 assists per contest which ranks them 15th and 15th respectively. In the turnover department the Pelicans rank 23rd with 13.2 per game. The Pelicans allow 106.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 22nd in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc ranking them 9th and 7th in those defensive statistics. Opponents average 48.5 rebounds a game which ranks 30th and they give up 23.2 assists per contest which puts them in 23rd place in the league. The Pelicans force 13.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 14th in the NBA.

The Spurs have an offensive rating of 112.4 and a defensive rating of 103.5. In terms of pace they average 94.6 possessions per 48 minutes and their effective field goal percentage is 53%. As a team they have a true shooting percentage of 57% and they shoot 3 pointers on 27% of their shots. San Antonio turns the ball over an average of 12.5 times per 100 possessions and they force 13.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%.

The Pelicans rating on offense is 104 and they have a defensive rating of 107.5. They get 98 possessions per 48 minutes and they have an effective field goal percentage of 50%. As a unit they have a true shooting percentage of 54% and they attempt 3 pointers on 31% of their shot attempts. New Orleans turns the ball over on 12.1 out of every 100 possessions and their opponents average 12.2 turnovers per 100 possessions. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the year is 51%.

San Antonio Spurs Betting Trends

The San Antonio Spurs are 34-25-0 against the spread

The San Antonio Spurs are 32-26-1 against the over/under

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 28-32-1 against the spread

The New Orleans Pelicans are 28-33-0 against the over/under

San Antonio Spurs Injuries

03/02/17 PG Tony Parker Quad "?" Friday vs. New Orleans

New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

10/22/16 F Quincy Pondexter Knee out indefinitely
03/02/17 F/C DeMarcus Cousins Suspension Served probable Friday vs. San Antonio
03/02/17 C Omer Asik Illness doubtful Friday vs. San Antonio

Josh's Pick: Take New Orleans +6

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