New Orleans Pelicans vs San Antonio Spurs Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 01/12/2023, 06:45  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 01/12/2023 at 06:45 in NBA Predictions

The San Antonio Spurs return to the court tonight, facing the New Orleans Pelicans in the second half of their back-to-back at the Smoothie King Center on Friday evening. The hosts are eighth in the Western Conference with a record of 10-9, while the visitors hold a 3-15 record for the season, placing them at the 15th. The New Orleans Pelicans enter this matchup following a 124-114 victory on Wednesday against the Philadelphia 76ers. They have earned a spot in the knockout rounds of the In Season Tournament driven by the contributions of Brandon Ingram and the seemingly healthy Zion Williamson. Overall, the Pelicans average of 113.4 points per game (16th), though they have faced challenges in shooting efficiency, as they are ranked 21st in field goal attempts per game and 27th in three-pointer attempts per game. Unfortunately, their defense has not been much better, averaging 113.0 points against per game.

Meanwhile, the Spurs are struggling in Western Conference play with a 3-10 record and are 2-8 when facing opponents over .500. They head into this match following a defeat to Atlanta, which ended with a final score of 137-135. San Antonio now find themselves on the second-longest losing streak in franchise history, enduring 13 consecutive defeats. The visitors looked as though they would break that against the Atlanta Hawks, but they couldn't overcome Trae Young's late-game heroics. The struggles for the Spurs this season are notably evident on the defensive end. San Antonio currently ranks 28th overall in points allowed per game, conceding an average of 123.4 points. Additionally, they’ve also faced difficulties in rebounding on the defensive end, sitting at 27th in defensive rebounds this season. On the offensive front, Spurs average only 110.5 points per game and rank 24th in two-point shooting percentage and 27th from beyond the arc.