Free NBA Pick: Hornets vs. Pelicans NBA Odds
Looking for Charlotte Hornets vs. New Orleans Pelicans free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Hornets taking on the Pelicans on Friday, March 11th, 2022 at Smoothie King Center. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Hornets – Pelicans matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(32-35) Charlotte Hornets vs. New Orleans Pelicans (27-39)
Date: Friday, March 11th
Time: 8:00 PM EST
Venue: Smoothie King Center
NBA Moneyline Odds: Hornets | Pelicans (Bet Now!) Moneyline is off as of posting
NBA Betting Odds: Pelicans -3.5
NBA Betting Total: 232.5
Friday, March 11th, finds the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans playing for the first time this season. Charlotte will host the Pelicans in their second meeting on March 21st.
Both teams last played on Tuesday with the Mavericks losing 99-107 to the Heat while the Pelicans fell 109-121 to the Grizzlies.
Last season, the squads played three times with the Mavericks winning two of the three contests. The Mavericks hold the advantage all-time winning 49 of the 73 matches.
Charlotte Hornets
For a team that is fighting to cement their playoff berth, the Hornets don’t play with a sense of urgency enough. They are one of the most exciting offensive teams to watch but they simply don’t commit to the defensive end of the court.
Most wouldn’t earmark Gordon Hayward as an essential part of the Hornets roster with LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, and Terry Rozier all seeming more important, particularly on offense.
But the reality is Hayward is the vet who keeps the team focused and calm when he’s in the games and I think his absence has a ton to do with why every game Charlotte will go on an extended stretch where they just stop defending or giving the effort necessary.
Charlotte is 6-12 in the matches Hayward hasn’t played and 4-8 in this recent stretch of him missing games.
Jalen McDaniels (ankle) and James Bouknight (neck) are questionable for Friday. Gordon Hayward (ankle) is out indefinitely.
New Orleans Pelicans
After four consecutive wins, the Pelicans hit a wall and are on a current three-game losing streak. They got more bad news this week with Brandon Ingram’s hamstring injury more serious than initially expected.
He’ll be out at least a week and possibly longer which puts a ton of pressure on CJ McCollum to try to keep New Orleans in the play-in mix with four teams realistically in the equation.
The one team they have to be wary of is the Spurs. San Antonio has Toronto’s pick (as long as they make the playoffs) so they have no reason not to want to make the play-in and get Dejounte Murray and Co. some experience.
The other two teams in the mix are actually helping them out as the Blazers are in full-on tank mode, while the Lakers are reeling and have the hardest schedule remaining.
Larry Nance Jr. (knee) is out indefinitely. Kira Lewis Jr. (ACL) is lost for the season and Williamson (foot) continues to be away from the team as he works to come back from his surgery.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Pelicans are 7-3 in the last 10 head to head matches
- The Pelicans are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 meetings.
- Over Under is 5-5 in the team’s last 10 head to head matchups
- Charlotte is 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 8 of New Orleans’ last 11 games at home.
- Charlotte is 10-3-1 ATS in their last 14 games on the road.
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New Orleans’ last 7 games.
Free Charlotte Hornets vs. New Orleans Pelicans NBA Analysis:
An intriguing match with both clubs desperate to win and each having the potential to cause issues for the other. Jonas Valanciunas will be able to feast inside facing Mason Plumlee.
Charlotte is an offensive juggernaut that can score in bunches and loves to lure their opponents into track meets but they don’t commit to defending which is why they’re inconsistent and struggling to put up wins.
Missing Ingram is an issue but it should be noted the Pelicans have been steadily improving defensively each month and since the All-Star break possesses the best defense in the association.
If both teams play to those identities the choice then comes down to who you trust more on the opposite end of the court and I fall into the category of believing the Pels are the better overall two-way team even without Ingram.
UPDATE: CJ McCollum has entered health and safety protocols – this news sort of changes everything. Without McCollum, I’m shifting to the Hornets.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Hornets +3.5
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