Phoenix Suns at New Orleans Pelicans NBA Picks & Predictions 2/26/2018

Monday, February 26, 2018

Smoothie King Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Phoenix Suns travel to Smoothie King Center to play the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, February 26, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has New Orleans as 8.5 point favorites.

The Suns come into this game with an overall record of 18-43. They are 5th in the Pacific Division. They currently have a point differential of -8.9 as they are averaging 104.1 points per game while giving up 113.0 per contest. The Pelicans have an overall mark of 32-26. They currently are 3rd in the Southwest Division. They are averaging 111.5 points per contest and giving up 111.4, which is a point differential of 0.1.

Valuable Phoenix Suns Betting Trends

The Phoenix Suns are 28-31-2 against the spread

The Phoenix Suns are 29-32-0 against the over/under

Important New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 30-28-0 against the spread

The New Orleans Pelicans are 34-24-0 against the over/under

Key Phoenix Suns Injuries

10/14/17 PG Brandon Knight Knee is out for season
02/24/18 C Tyson Chandler Neck is "?" Monday vs New Orleans
01/31/18 G Isaiah Canaan Foot is out for season

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

Player Spotlight

Devin Booker averages 24.4 points per game in 34.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.8 assists per contest and 4.5 rebounds per game for Phoenix. His field goal percentage is 43% for the year while his free throw percentage is 89%. T.J. Warren comes into this contest averaging 19.4 points per game while playing 32.5 minutes per night so far this season for the Suns. He pulls down 5.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 50% while his free throw percentage is currently at 75%.

Player Spotlight

Jrue Holiday averages 18.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 36.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.4 rebounds per contest and 5.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 79%. Anthony Davis averages 27.7 points per game while playing 36.5 minutes per contest this year for the Pelicans. He grabs 10.9 rebounds per game and has 2.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 54% and his free throw percentage currently is at 82%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Suns allow 113 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 30th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 25th and 22nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 45.5 rebounds a game which ranks 28th, and they give up 22.6 assists per contest which puts them in 11th place in the league. They force 13.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 4th in the league. Phoenix averages 104.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 20th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -8.87 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 28th. Behind the arc they shoot 33% which is good for 30th in the league. They average 44 rebounds per game and 21 assists per game, which ranks them 13th and 29th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 4th with 15.6 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Pelicans surrender 111.4 points per contest, which ranks them 29th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 14th and 13th in those defensive statistics. They rank 23rd with 24.3 assists allowed per contest, and 25th with 45.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Pelicans are 19th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.7 per game this season. New Orleans is 4th in the league with 111.5 points per game this year. They are 2nd in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 0.17. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 13th in the NBA. They are 16th in the league in rebounding with 43.7 boards per game and 2nd in assists per contest with 26.4. The Pelicans are 6th in turnovers per game with 15.4.

Advanced Statistics

The Suns are 28th in the league in defensive rating with 113, and their offensive rating of 104.2 is ranked 1st. They are 4th in the NBA in pace with 99.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 30th. As a unit they are 28th in the league in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 20th in the NBA. Phoenix is 7th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 8th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

New Orleans is 9th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 16th in the NBA. The Pelicans are 11th in the league in defensive rating with 109.3, and their offensive rating of 109.5 is ranked 12th. They are 3rd in the NBA in pace with 100 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 16th in the NBA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take New Orleans -8.5

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