Orlando Magic vs. New Orleans Pelicans - 12/15/19 NBA Picks, Odds, and Prediction

Game: Orlando Magic vs New Orleans Pelicans

Date: Sunday, December 15, 2019

Location: Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA

TV: Fox Sports New Orleans

Odds/Point Spread: New Orleans -2

Total/Over-Under: 221

Smoothie King Center is the site where Jrue Holiday and the New Orleans Pelicans (6-20, 5th in the Southwest Division) will take on the Orlando Magic (11-14, 2nd in the Southeast Division) on Sunday. The line on this game has New Orleans as 2 point favorites. The over/under opens at 221.

The Magic cover 41.7% of the time, having gone 10-14-1 ATS. New Orleans is covering 36.0% of the time, going 9-16-1 against the spread.

Key Orlando Magic Injuries

12/13/2019 Nikola Vucevic C Ankle Expected to be out until at least Dec 15
12/1/2019 Al-Farouq Aminu PF Knee Expected to be out until at least Feb 1

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

12/10/2019 Zylan Cheatham SF Undisclosed Game Time Decision
12/6/2019 Zion Williamson SF Knee Expected to be out until at least Jan 3
8/29/2019 Darius Miller SF Achilles Expected to be out until at least Apr 1

Player Spotlight

Evan Fournier comes into this contest averaging 20.2 points per game while playing 30.6 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 2.9 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 83%. Jonathan Isaac averages 12.5 points per game in 30.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.3 assists per contest and 7.1 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 82%.

Player Spotlight

Jrue Holiday averages 19.0 points per game while playing 35.9 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.1 rebounds per game and has 6.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 68%. Brandon Ingram averages 25.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 33.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 7.0 rebounds per contest and 3.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

Orlando averages 102.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 29th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -1.3 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a team, which has them ranked 28th. Behind the arc they shoot 33% which is good for 27th in the league. They average 45.0 rebounds per game and 22.4 assists per game, which ranks them 16th and 23rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 27th with 13.6 per game. The Magic allow 103.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 2nd in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 13th and 15th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 44.9 rebounds a game which ranks 11th and they give up 23.2 assists per contest, which puts them in 11th place in the league. They force 14.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 8th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans is 9th in the league with 112.6 points per game this year. They are 22nd in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -7.1. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 10th in the NBA. They are 20th in the league in rebounding with 44.2 boards per game, and 12th in assists per contest with 24.7. The Pelicans are 8th in turnovers per game with 16.0. The Pelicans surrender 119.7 points per contest, which ranks them 29th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 48% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 28th and 25th in those defensive statistics. They rank 21st with 25.0 assists allowed per contest and 26th with 46.7 rebounds surrendered per game. The Pelicans are 20th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.6 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Magic are 24th in the NBA in offensive rating with 105.1, and their defensive rating of 106.4 is ranked 12th. In terms of pace they are 29th in the league with 97.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 49% is 28th. As a team they are 29th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 23rd in the league. Orlando is 23rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 15th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

New Orleans is 12th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 55%, which is 4th in the NBA. The Pelicans are 19th in the league in defensive rating with 114.3, and their offensive rating of 107.5 is ranked 28th. They are 3rd in the NBA in pace with 103.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 12th. As a unit they are 18th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shot attempts, ranking 5th in the NBA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Orlando +2

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