The New Orleans Pelicans aim to stop a four-game skid on Thursday evening. The Pelicans host the San Antonio Spurs in a Western Conference tilt. The Pelicans are 18-12 overall, while the Spurs enter at 10-20. Zion Williamson (protocols) and Brandon Ingram (toe) are out for the Pelicans, with Larry Nance Jr. (Achilles) listed as questionable. Keldon Johnson (hamstring) is listed as doubtful for the Spurs.
Tip-off is at 8 p.m. ET in New Orleans. Caesars Sportsbook lists New Orleans as the 8-point home favorites, while the over/under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 226.5 in the latest Spurs vs. Pelicans odds. Before making any Pelicans vs. Spurs picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past four-plus seasons. The model enters Week 10 of the 2022-23 NBA season on a stunning 28-12 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning almost $1,400. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Pelicans vs. Spurs and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Spurs vs. Pelicans:
- Spurs vs. Pelicans spread: Pelicans -8
- Spurs vs. Pelicans over/under: 226.5 points
- Spurs vs. Pelicans money line: Pelicans -345, Spurs +270
- SAS: The Spurs are 6-7 against the spread on the road
- NOP: The Pelicans are 9-7 against the spread at home
- Spurs vs. Pelicans picks: See picks at SportsLine
Featured Game | New Orleans Pelicans vs. San Antonio Spurs
Why the Spurs can cover
San Antonio has a budding standout in Devin Vassell. The former lottery pick is averaging 20 points per game while shooting 41.2% from 3-point range this season, and he has at least 13 points in 14 consecutive games. The Spurs are also fantastic as a passing team, averaging 27.4 assists and assisting on more than 65% of field goals.
San Antonio is in the top 10 of the NBA in offensive rebound rate (30%) and second-chance points (15.3 per game), and the Spurs take advantage of nuance with 15 fast break points and 52.5 points in the paint per game. On defense, the Spurs will aim to create havoc with 14.9 takeaways per game, and San Antonio is fantastic at keeping opponents off the free throw line, yielding only 21.8 attempts per game at the charity stripe.
Why the Pelicans can cover
The Pelicans are stellar on both ends of the floor. New Orleans is in the top eight of the NBA in offensive and defensive efficiency with clearly elite metrics. The Pelicans are in the top five of the NBA in field goal percentage (48.5%) and points in the paint (55.9 per game), and New Orleans is facing a San Antonio defense that is last in the league in points allowed per possession, field goal percentage allowed, 3-point percentage allowed and assists allowed.
On defense, the Pelicans create havoc with top-five marks in turnover creation (16.1 per game) and steals (8.7 per game). New Orleans is holding opponents to 33.7% from 3-point range, and the Pelicans are in the top 10 of the NBA in field goal percentage allowed and free throw attempts allowed. San Antonio has ball security issues, and the Spurs attempt the second-fewest free throws in the league.
How to make Spurs vs. Pelicans picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 240 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread has all of the value. You can only see the model’s pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Pelicans vs. Spurs? And which side of the spread has all of the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.