New Orleans Pelicans vs LA Clippers Game
NBA Odds and Predictions
The Los Angeles Clippers will be looking to find some consistency when they host the young, New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night. LA is off to an uneven start under first-year head coach Tyron Lue and looks more mediocre than anything else at this early juncture. For New Orleans, the Pelicans are trying to find their way – and new identity – under new head coach Stan Van Gundy.
Can New Orleans step up to challenge for the outright online betting road win or will LA take care of business at the Staples Center? With both Western Conference playoff contenders going all out for the sportsbook win, let’s find out where the best NBA betting value lies in this intriguing mid-week matchup.
New Orleans (4-5) vs LA Clippers (7-4)
- When: Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021 at 10:00 PM ET
- Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
- TV: ESPN
Pelicans Are Struggling
New Orleans has dropped three straight and comes into this matchup fresh off a humbling 118-110 home loss against Charlotte on Friday. The Pelicans were scheduled to take on Dallas on Monday night, but that affair was postponed because the Mavs didn’t have enough eligible players.
Zion Williamson scored a team-high 26 points and Josh Hart added 19 points off the bench for the Pelicans, but team scoring leader Brandon Ingram was held to 17 points on 3 of 11 shooting from the field. All three of New Orleans’ losses have come at home.
“There is some frustration because I just want to win,” Williamson said after his team’s most recent loss. “We’ve got to hold ourselves accountable for those types of losses, whether it’s the turnovers, whether it’s the lack of rotation, communication.”
The young Pelicans are ranked an uninspiring 25th in scoring (107.1 ppg) and 30th in three-point shooting percentage (32.2). The good news is that New Orleans has been rock-solid defensively in ranking fifth in points allowed (106.6 ppg), sixth in defensive field goal percentage and ninth in three-point field goal defense.
LA Clippers Looking For Consistency
The Clippers got past Chicago 130-127 on Sunday as Kawhi Leonard scored a team-high 35 points while draining a career-high seven three-pointers. Leonard scored 21 points and sank five threes in the third quarter while reaching the 10,000-point mark for his career.
“It’s a stepping stone,” Leonard said afterward. “But to be honest, I really don’t care about it. My eye is on the next day, next game. … Maybe when I retire, I’ll sit back and look at the accomplishments. But right now, it’s about being greedy and wanting more.”
Paul George added 28 points in the win while Lou Williams chipped in 21 points off the bench. Still, the Clippers need to find some consistency after alternating wins and losses over their last seven games.
Expert Analysis and Prediction
While I really like New Orleans’ collection of young talent, starting with the sweet-shooting Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans have lost their way recently, particularly at the defensive end of the floor.
New Orleans has allowed at least 116 points in three of its last four games while giving up an identical 118 points in two of its last three losses. The Pelicans have gone 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games and 2-6 ATS in their last 8 road games.
The veteran-laden Clippers might not have the look of a legitimate NBA Championship contender at the moment, but I fully believe LA will take care of business at home in this mid-week matchup.
The Clippers need to find some consistency in the worst way right now. I think that begins with recording consecutive wins for just the second time this season. Los Angeles has won three straight over New Orleans and I like the Clips to make it four in a row by getting the confidence-boosting win on Wednesday night!
Pick: Clippers 115 Pelicans 108
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