New Orleans Pelicans at Atlanta Hawks NBA Picks & Predictions 1/17/2018

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Philips Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The New Orleans Pelicans travel to Philips Arena to play the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, January 17, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has New Orleans as 4 point favorites.

The Pelicans come into this game with an overall record of 22-20. They are 3rd in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 0.0 as they are averaging 111.0 points per game while giving up 111.0 per contest. The Hawks have an overall record of 12-31. They currently are 4th in the Southeast Division. They are averaging 103.9 points per game and surrendering 108.1, good for a point differential of -4.2.

Valuable New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 23-19-0 against the spread

The New Orleans Pelicans are 25-17-0 against the over/under

Important Atlanta Hawks Betting Trends

The Atlanta Hawks are 23-18-2 against the spread

The Atlanta Hawks are 22-21-0 against the over/under

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

12/12/17 G Tony Allen Knee is out indefinitely
10/20/17 C Alexis Ajinca Knee is out indefinitely
10/14/17 F Solomon Hill Hamstring is out indefinitely
01/15/18 PG Jameer Nelson Personal is downgraded to OUT Tuesday vs Boston

Key Atlanta Hawks Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Demarcus Cousins averages 25.5 points per game in 35.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 5.1 assists per contest and 12.6 rebounds per game for New Orleans. His field goal percentage is 47% for the year while his free throw percentage is 75%. Jrue Holiday comes into this contest averaging 18.4 points per game while playing 36.8 minutes per night so far this season for the Pelicans. He pulls down 4.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 49% while his free throw percentage is currently at 82%.

Player Spotlight

Dennis Schroder averages 20.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32 minutes per contest. He also averages 3 rebounds per contest and 6.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 87%. Taurean Waller-Prince averages 12.6 points per game while playing 31 minutes per contest this year for the Hawks. He grabs 5.5 rebounds per game and has 2.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage currently is at 78%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Pelicans allow 111 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 28th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 16th and 19th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.4 rebounds a game which ranks 17th, and they give up 24 assists per contest which puts them in 23rd place in the league. They force 14.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 12th in the league. New Orleans averages 111 points per contest this season, which ranks them 4th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 0.02 and their shooting percentage is 49% as a team, which has them ranked 2nd. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 6th in the league. They average 42.6 rebounds per game and 26.2 assists per game, which ranks them 18th and 2nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 3rd with 16 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Hawks surrender 108.1 points per contest, which ranks them 22nd in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 26th and 21st in those defensive statistics. They rank 29th with 25.6 assists allowed per contest, and 19th with 43.7 rebounds surrendered per game. The Hawks are 29th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 16.3 per game this season. Atlanta is 20th in the league with 103.9 points per game this year. They are 17th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -4.14. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 4th in the NBA. They are 25th in the league in rebounding with 40.8 boards per game and 5th in assists per contest with 23.6. The Hawks are 7th in turnovers per game with 15.5.

Advanced Statistics

The Pelicans are 7th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110.4, and their defensive rating of 110.3 is ranked 6th. In terms of pace they are 6th in the league with 99.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 2nd. As a team they are 3rd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 11th in the league. New Orleans is 2nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 14th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Atlanta is 4th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 2nd in the league. The Hawks are 20th in the NBA in offensive rating with 106.6, and their defensive rating of 110.9 is ranked 5th. In terms of pace they are 14th in the league with 97.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 16th. As a team they are 14th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 16th in the league.

Who will win tonight's Pelicans/Hawks NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Atlanta +4

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