Cleveland Cavaliers vs New Orleans Pelicans Predictions, NBA Picks Against the Spread 2/28/2020

Game: Cleveland Cavaliers vs New Orleans Pelicans

Date: Friday, February 28, 2020

Location: Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA

TV: Fox Sports New Orleans

Odds/Point Spread: New Orleans -5.5

Total/Over-Under: 228

Smoothie King Center is the site where Brandon Ingram and the New Orleans Pelicans (25-33, 4th in the Southwest Division) will play the Cleveland Cavaliers (17-41, 5th in the Central Division) on Friday. New Orleans opens this game as 5.5 point favorites. The total is set at 228.

The Cavaliers are covering 45.6% of the time, having gone 26-31-1 ATS. New Orleans covers the spread 53.6% of the time, going 30-26-2 against the spread.

Key Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

02/26/20 C Andre Drummond Calf is questionable Friday vs New Orleans
02/26/20 PG Dante Exum Ankle is out indefinitely
02/26/20 SF Alfonzo McKinnie Plantar Fasciitis is questionable Friday vs New Orleans
01/13/20 SG Dylan Windler Leg is out for season

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

02/21/20 G Kenrich Williams Back is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Kevin Love averages 17.4 points per game in 31.3 minutes per contest. He averages 3.0 assists per contest and 9.7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 85%. Collin Sexton comes into this contest averaging 19.9 points per game while playing 32.2 minutes per night. He pulls down 3.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is at 85%.

Player Spotlight

Jrue Holiday averages 19.2 points per game and he sees the court an average of 34.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.7 rebounds per contest and 6.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 71%. Brandon Ingram averages 24.7 points per game while playing 34.0 minutes per contest. He grabs 6.3 rebounds per game and has 4.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 86%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Cavaliers allow 114.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 23rd in the league. They also allow a 49% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 30th and 24th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.8 rebounds a game which ranks 5th, and they give up 26.1 assists per contest which puts them in 28th place in the league. They force 12.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 4th in the league. Cleveland averages 106.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 26th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -8.2 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 20th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 20th in the league. They average 44.6 rebounds per game and 22.5 assists per contest, which ranks them 19th and 25th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 1st with 16.6 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Pelicans surrender 117.0 points per contest, which ranks them 28th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 19th and 17th in those defensive statistics. They rank 16th with 24.4 assists allowed per contest, and 16th with 45.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Pelicans are 16th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.4 per game. New Orleans is 4th in the league with 115.8 points per game this year. They are 16th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -1.2. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 4th in the NBA. They are 5th in the league in rebounding with 46.6 boards per game and 3rd in assists per contest with 26.7. The Pelicans are 3rd in turnovers per game with 16.1.

Advanced Statistics

The Cavaliers are 24th in the league in defensive rating with 115.3, and their offensive rating of 107.1 is ranked 29th. They are 20th in the NBA in pace with 98.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 22nd. As a unit they are 23rd in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 18th in the NBA. Cleveland is 1st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 56%, which is 1st in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

New Orleans is 7th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 13th in the league. The Pelicans are 15th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110.8, and their defensive rating of 111.9 is ranked 20th. In terms of pace they are 2nd in the league with 103.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 7th. As a team they are 11th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shots, ranking 7th in the league.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Cleveland +5.5

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