New Orleans Pelicans at Sacramento Kings NBA Picks & Predictions 3/7/2018

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Golden 1 Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The New Orleans Pelicans travel to Golden 1 Center to play the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, March 7, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has New Orleans as 4 point favorites.

The Pelicans head into this matchup with a mark of 36-26. They are 2nd in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 0.7 as they are averaging 112.3 points per contest while giving up 111.6 per game. The Kings have an overall record of 20-44. They currently are 4th in the Pacific Division. They are averaging 99.2 points per game and surrendering 107.0, good for a point differential of -7.8.

Valuable New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 34-28-0 against the spread

The New Orleans Pelicans are 38-24-0 against the over/under

Important Sacramento Kings Betting Trends

The Sacramento Kings are 28-32-4 against the spread

The Sacramento Kings are 35-28-1 against the over/under

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

10/20/17 C Alexis Ajinca Knee is out indefinitely
10/14/17 F Solomon Hill Hamstring is out indefinitely
03/04/18 F Emeka Okafor Ankle is "?" Tuesday vs LA Clippers
01/27/18 F DeMarcus Cousins Achilles is out for season

Key Sacramento Kings Injuries

03/04/18 C Willie Cauley-Stein Back is "?" Wednesday vs New Orleans
02/11/18 G Iman Shumpert Plantar Fasciitis is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Jrue Holiday comes into this contest averaging 19.4 points per game while playing 36.7 minutes per night so far this season for the Pelicans. He pulls down 4.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 50% while his free throw percentage is currently at 79%. Anthony Davis averages 28 points per game in 36.7 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.4 assists per contest and 11.1 rebounds per game for New Orleans. His field goal percentage is 54% for the year while his free throw percentage is 83%.

Player Spotlight

Buddy Hield averages 12.7 points per game while playing 24.3 minutes per contest this year for the Kings. He grabs 3.7 rebounds per game and has 1.6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage currently is at 88%. De'Aaron Fox averages 11.6 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 27.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.6 rebounds per contest and 4.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 74%.

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans averages 112.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 3rd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 0.69 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 2nd. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 15th in the league. They average 43.9 rebounds per game and 26.4 assists per game, which ranks them 14th and 2nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 7th with 15.3 per game. The Pelicans allow 111.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 29th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 14th and 12th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 45.1 rebounds a game which ranks 25th and they give up 24.2 assists per contest, which puts them in 23rd place in the league. They force 14.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 17th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Sacramento is 29th in the league with 99.2 points per game this year. They are 19th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -7.81. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 2nd in the NBA. They are 29th in the league in rebounding with 40.4 boards per game, and 27th in assists per contest with 21.3. The Kings are 17th in turnovers per game with 14.1. The Kings surrender 107 points per contest, which ranks them 19th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 28th and 30th in those defensive statistics. They rank 24th with 24.2 assists allowed per contest and 23rd with 44 rebounds surrendered per game. The Kings are 21st in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.8 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Pelicans are 9th in the NBA in offensive rating with 109.9, and their defensive rating of 109.3 is ranked 14th. In terms of pace they are 3rd in the league with 100.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 4th. As a team they are 4th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 17th in the league. New Orleans is 12th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 17th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Sacramento is 16th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 55%, which is 1st in the NBA. The Kings are 29th in the league in defensive rating with 112.1, and their offensive rating of 103.9 is ranked 2nd. They are 28th in the NBA in pace with 95.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 26th. As a unit they are 29th in the league in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 27% of their shot attempts, ranking 28th in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Sacramento +4

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