Free NBA Pick: Suns vs. Pelicans NBA Odds
Looking for Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Pelicans free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Suns taking on the Pelicans on Friday, December 9th, 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 Suns-Pelicans matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(16-9) Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Pelicans (16-8)
Date: Friday, December 9th
Time: 8:30 PM EST
Venue: Smoothie King Center
NBA Moneyline Odds: Suns -135 | Pelicans +125 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Suns -2
NBA Betting Total: 227
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Friday, December 9th, the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans meet for the second of four scheduled matches. This is a baseball set with the second match on the 11th while Phoenix hosts the final meeting on December 17th.
The Suns won the initial contest 124-122 on October 28th.
Both teams played on Wednesday with the Suns getting routed 98-125 by the Celtics while the Pelicans overtook Phoenix atop the West’s ladder with their 104-98 victory versus the Pistons.
The Suns hold the advantage all-time winning 37 of the 69 matches versus the Pelicans. They played four times last season with the Suns winning three of the four contests. They met again in the first round with the Suns prevailing 4-2.
Phoenix Suns
You have to hand it to Monty Williams and Devin Booker for not only keeping the Suns competitive but retaining the top spot in the West for as long as they did despite dealing with the absences of Chris Paul and Cameron Johnson.
CP3 returned on Wednesday but it didn’t make a difference as the Celtics pummeled them demonstrating how far behind the Suns are.
The combination of their loss and the Pelicans’ win forced the swap in positions putting more emphasis on this match. The teams will play three times in their next five games over eight days.
Phoenix will also play the Grizzlies three times and the Nuggets twice in their next 20 games.
In fact, the top nine West teams are separated by three games with the Pels up a half-game on the Suns and Grizzlies. The Celtics, in contrast, have a two-game edge over the Bucks with the Cavaliers 4.5 games back and no other team closer than seven games.
How the Suns navigate the next 20-game segment will be challenging with three road trips of six games and four games (twice) facing 12 opponents with winning records and two .500 teams (Warriors, Wolves) and 10 of those opponents seeded fourth or higher.
Opponents score 109.3 points ranking sixth, while shooting 46.4% (11th) from the field 36.5% from deep (21st).
Offensively, is in the top third of the league putting up 116.5 points per game ranking seventh overall. From an efficiency standpoint, they shoot 48.0% from the field and 38.4% from the perimeter ranking eighth and third respectively.
Duane Washington Jr. (hip) is out Friday. Jae Crowder (trade request) and Cameron Johnson (knee) are out.
New Orleans Pelicans
Like the Suns, the Pelicans have been hit by the injury bug but their success through the adversity is arguably more impressive as they haven’t had a Devin Booker equivalent spearheading the wins.
Zion Williamson has delivered some big games with Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum out but it’s been the performances of reserves like Jose Alvarado, Trey Murphy III, and Devonte Graham stepping.
Aside from the Suns, the Pels will play nine games featuring teams with winning records in the next 20 games but only four are currently top-four seeds (Grizzlies, Bucks, Celts, and Cavs). They play 11 road games with two trips of three and four games.
Offensively, the Pelicans rank fourth for scoring averaging 117.3 points per game while shooting 48.5% from the field and 37.5% from the perimeter ranking fifth and seventh respectively.
Defensively, the Pelicans allow opponents to score 110.3 points per game, ranking 10th. New Orleans holds their opponents to 46.2% from the field also ranking 10th and boasts the best perimeter ranking of 32.5%.
Jose Alvarado (rib) is questionable while Herbert Jones (ankle) Brandon Ingram (toe) and E.J. Liddell (knee) are all out.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against New Orleans.
- The Pelicans are 8-4 ATS in their last 12 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Phoenix’s last 5 games on the road.
- The Pelicans are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games.
Free Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Pelicans NBA Prediction:
If either team could sweep the baseball set as well as the game on December 17th they could distance themselves from the other squad. It’s unlikely as most baseball sets between the elite teams end up in splits. But with the teams playing three times in eight days even gaining the 2-1 edge will be valuable.
The oddsmakers must like the Suns a lot more than I do making the Suns the favorite on the road. Despite CP3 being back, I’m leaning toward the Pels because they are playing with confidence and swagger.
Besides – I know Mikal Bridges is a great defender but do you seriously think he can stop Zion Williamson?
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Pelicans +2
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