Pelicans vs. Cavaliers Prediction
Can the New Orleans Pelicans go on the road and cover nearly a double-digit spread against the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers tonight at 8PM ET?
551 New Orleans Pelicans vs. 552 Cleveland Cavaliers
Saturday, January 5, 2019
8PM ET – Quicken Loans Arena
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Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Pelicans are favored on the road as they are getting odds of -9 points against the Cavs. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 223.5 points. The public betting for this game currently has 76 percent going on the Pelicans on the road. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our NBA Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Pelicans in a funk
The Pelicans are just 2-7 in their last nine games following a 126-121 loss at Brooklyn on Wednesday. They are also just 2-7 against the spread in their last nine games. New Orleans is now 17-22 on the season, 4-16 on the road, 16-23 against the spread and 21-18 with the over.
New Orleans can score, but struggles to stop opponents. The Pelicans are averaging 116.3 points per game this year while shooting 47.7 percent from the field. Defensively, the Pelicans are giving up 115.5 points per game. The team will be without Nikola Mirotic out tonight with an ankle injury. Mirotic averages 17.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Anthony Davis is leading the team with 28.7 points, 13.4 rebounds and 2.65 blocks per contest while Jrue Holiday adds 20.9 points and 8.5 assists per contest.
Cavs can’t get on track
Cleveland can’t seem to get on track as the Cavs have lost eight straight, including a 117-91 loss at home to Utah last night. The Cavs are 3-5 against the spread during this losing streak. Cleveland is 8-31 on the season, 5-15 at home, 18-21 against the spread and 20-18-1 with the under.
The Cavs are struggling on both sides of the ball. The offense is putting up just 101.7 points per game this year while the defense is giving up 111.6 points per game. Opponents are shooting 48.8 percent against them. Injuries have been an issue all season for Cleveland with Kevin Love missing most of the year and JR Smith having been gone since November. Jordan Clarkson is currently leading the team with 16.8 points per game while Tristan Thompson is adding 11.9 points and 11.3 rebounds per game.
NBA Betting Trends
New Orleans
The Pelicans are 7-2 against the spread in their last nine games playing on two days rest, but just 1-4 ATS in their last five games following a loss.
Cleveland
The Cavs have covered the spread in 10 of their last 11 games playing on no rest, but have failed to cover in five straight home games.
Prediction:
It seems like a lot to ask of the Pelicans to win by 10 on the road when they haven’t been able to even win on the road since Dec. 9. The Cavs certainly haven’t been playing well either, but I just don’t trust the New Orleans defense to put in enough effort to stop anyone. The Pelicans will score tonight, but I think the Cavs will as well. Getting Thompson back helps their efforts in the paint a little bit, especially with the Pelicans not having Mirotic.
NBA Prediction: Cleveland Cavaliers +9