Free NBA Pick: Pelicans vs. Cavaliers NBA Odds
Looking for New Orleans Pelicans vs. Cleveland Cavaliers free NBA picks & NBA Odds? NBA betting sees the Pelicans taking on the Cavaliers on Monday, January 31st at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, Ohio. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Pelicans Cavaliers matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(18-31) New Orleans Pelicans vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (31-20)
Date: Monday, January 31st
Time: 7:00 PM (ET)
Venue: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio
NBA Moneyline Odds: Pelicans +450 | Cavaliers -455 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Cavaliers -9.5
NBA Betting Total: OFF
Monday, January 31st the New Orleans Pelicans face the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second and final time this season. New Orleans won the initial contests 108-104 on December 28th.
The Pelicans last played on Saturday in a 97-107 loss to the Celtics while the Cavaliers are playing a back-to-back facing the Pistons on Sunday.
All-time the Pelicans have the advantage of winning 25 of 42 matches versus the Cavaliers. Last season the teams played twice with New Orleans taking both contests.
New Orleans Pelicans
The losing streak has reached three games in a row as the Pelicans navigate a run of bad luck with injuries. The team has improved after a horrific 3-16 season start and adapted to not having Zion Williamson.
But missing both Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas has been difficult as they represent the top two scorers, top assist man (Ingram) and top rebounder (JV).
Cumulatively that equates to 40.7 points, 18.1 rebounds, and 7.7 assists which is a ton of production to make up for and their return date is uncertain although the Pels are hopeful it will be Monday.
In the most recent game, six Pelicans registered double-figure scores with rookie Jose Alvarado leading the way scoring 19 points off the bench. Josh Hart delivered a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Willy Hernangomez (14), Devonte Graham (12), Garrett Temple (12), and Herbert Jones (11) were the other double-digit contributors.
As noted Ingram (ankle) and Valanciunas (quarantine) are questionable as is Trey Murphy III (quarantine). Kira Lewis Jr. (ACL) is lost for the season while Zion Williamson (foot) remains away from the team rehabbing his foot with no definitive return date.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Entering Sunday, the Cavaliers had won eight of nine matches and were one of the hottest teams in the Association. Sunday they opened a back-to-back set in Detroit.
Facing a lottery-bound Pistons club it seemed like a sure bet the Cavaliers would win easily and be able to rest their core for the match versus the Pelicans Monday.
As they say, best-laid plans don’t always come to fruition, and perhaps as a reminder that this Cleveland team is still one of the youngest in the league they fell prey to the trap game.
Jumping out to a 15-0 lead the Cavaliers took their foot off the gas and allowed Detroit to battle back with a particularly rough final frame where they were outscored 17-31.
Rookie Evan Mobley showed his maturity and summed up the situation perfectly:
“We beat the defending champs, and I think we took it as a sign that we were a better team than we really are. Tonight was our wakeup call. We got brought down to earth a little.”
Mobley was one of the Cavaliers with a strong effort coming just shy of a double-double with 18 points, nine rebounds plus three blocks. Darius Garland led the way with 24 points and seven assists.
Although five Cavs scored in double-figures many struggled from the field in this match with Jarrett Allen shooting 4 of 11 and Rajon Rondo shooting 1 of 6.
Facing another lower-tier team in the Pelicans the Cavs will have the opportunity to immediately show they’ve learned a quick lesson.
Lauri Markkanen (ankle) is out indefinitely while Rubio (torn ACL) and Collin Sexton (knee) are both lost for the season.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Pelicans are 9-1 in their last 10 meetings against each other
- The Pelicans are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 matches against the Grizzlies
- The over/under is 7-3 in the teams last 10 head to head matches
- The Cavaliers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games.
- The Pelicans are 2-5 SU in their last 7 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of New Orleans’ last 8 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Cleveland’s last 12 games.
Free New Orleans Pelicans vs. Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Prediction
Much depends on whether Ingram and Valanciunas will suit up for this match as their presence impacts whether the Pelicans can keep the game closer than the 9.5 spread.
On the other hand, the young Cavs will be looking to make a statement in a bounce-back effort following the embarrassing loss in Detroit.
I’m going to lean to at least one of the Pels stars returning and while I think the Cavs win I don’t think they cover the spread especially if Ingram returns.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Pelicans +9.5
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