New Orleans Pelicans at San Antonio Spurs NBA Picks & Predictions 2/28/2018

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

AT&T Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The New Orleans Pelicans head to AT&T Center to take on the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, February 28, 2018. The opening line for this game has San Antonio as 5.5 point favorites.

The Pelicans come into this game with an overall record of 34-26. They are 3rd in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 0.4 as they are averaging 112.0 points per game while giving up 111.6 per contest. The Spurs have an overall record of 36-25. They currently are 2nd in the Southwest Division. They are averaging 102.0 points per game and surrendering 98.8, good for a point differential of 3.2.

Valuable New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 32-28-0 against the spread

The New Orleans Pelicans are 36-24-0 against the over/under

Important San Antonio Spurs Betting Trends

The San Antonio Spurs are 32-27-2 against the spread

The San Antonio Spurs are 28-33-0 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
01/27/18 F DeMarcus Cousins Achilles is out for season

Key San Antonio Spurs Injuries

02/27/18 F Pau Gasol Knee is "?" Wednesday vs New Orleans
02/25/18 G Manu Ginobili Chest is "?" Wednesday vs New Orleans
01/17/18 SF Kawhi Leonard Quad is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Anthony Davis comes into this game averaging 28.2 points per contest while playing 36.7 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 11 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.4 assists per game. His FG percentage is 54% while his free throw percentage is 82%. Jrue Holiday averages 19.1 points per contest in 36.8 minutes per game this year. He averages 5.6 assists per game and 4.4 rebounds per contest for New Orleans. His field goal percentage is 49% for the season while his free throw percentage is 80%.

Player Spotlight

Pau Gasol has scored 10.7 points per contest while playing 24.9 minutes per game this season for the Spurs. He hauls in 8.4 rebounds per contest and has 3.3 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is at 77%. LaMarcus Aldridge averages 22.8 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 34 minutes per game. He also brings in 8.3 rebounds per game and 2.1 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans averages 112 points per contest this year, which is 4th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 0.35 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a unit, which has them ranked 2nd. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 14th in the NBA. They average 43.9 boards per contest and 26.4 assists per game, which ranks them 14th and 2nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 5th with 15.4 per game. The Pelicans allow 111.6 points per contest which is 29th in the NBA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 15th and 12th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 45.2 rebounds a game which ranks 25th, and they allow 24.2 assists per game which puts them in 23rd place in the league. They force 14.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 20th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

San Antonio is 27th in the NBA with 102 points per contest this season. They are 16th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 3.2. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 19th in the league. They are 13th in the NBA in rebounding with 44.2 boards per contest and 15th in assists per game with 22.8. The Spurs are 25th in turnovers per contest with 13.5. The Spurs give up 98.8 points per game, which ranks them 1st in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 6th and 4th in those defensive statistics. They rank 7th with 21.3 dimes allowed per game and 12th with 42.2 boards surrendered per contest. The Spurs are 9th in the league in forcing turnovers with 13.9 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Pelicans are 11th in the league in defensive rating with 109.2, and their offensive rating of 109.6 is ranked 13th. They are 3rd in the NBA in pace with 100.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 4th. As a unit they are 4th in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 17th in the NBA. New Orleans is 11th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 16th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

San Antonio is 23rd in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 25th in the NBA. The Spurs are 16th in the league in defensive rating with 104.4, and their offensive rating of 107.7 is ranked 29th. They are 29th in the NBA in pace with 94.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 23rd. As a unit they are 20th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shot attempts, ranking 26th in the NBA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take San Antonio -5.5

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