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, April 22nd, 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 Playoffs Handicapping Round 1
(1-1) Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Pelicans (1-1)
Date: Friday, April 22nd
Time: 9:30 PM EST
Venue: Smoothie King Center
NBA Moneyline Odds: Suns -118 | Pelicans +115 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Suns -1.5
NBA Betting Total: 216
Game three between the eighth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans and top-seeded Phoenix Suns tips off on Friday, April 22nd. Phoenix won the opening game 110-99 while the Pelicans evened the series with a 125-114 victory in Game 2.
The Suns won the regular-season series 3-1 with wins on November 2nd (112-100), January 4th (123-110), and March 15th (131-115) while the Pelicans won the February 25th (117-102) match.
The Suns hold the advantage all-time winning 36 of the 68 matches versus the Pelicans and this is the first time the teams will meet in the postseason.
Phoenix Suns
A season spent leading the league and finishing with eight additional victories to their closest competitor (Grizzlies) had most analysts believing the Suns held the best odds to win the 2022 title.
In the East, the defending champion Bucks were tapped with the best shot to win the Eastern Conference to set up a repeat of the 2021 NBA Finals.
While every title run is impacted by matchups and skills the one inevitable intangible is LUCK. That factor came into play in Game 2 for each of the Suns and Bucks who were bit by the injury bug.
Bucks forward Khris Middleton sprained his MCL while Suns star Devin Booker strained his hamstring which will remove both players for at least a few games and could put each squad in jeopardy of advancing out of the first round let alone reaching the Finals.
Booker scored 31 points prior to the injury. Chris Paul followed up his Game 1 heroics by struggling from the field (5 of 16) but posted a double-double of 17 points and 14 assists.
Mikal Bridges delivered on both sides of the court offering 19 points, six rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block while Deandre Ayton offered 10 points and nine rebounds.
Cameron Johnson (who is likely to get the tap to start in place of the injured Booker) scored 11 points while JaVale McGee chipped in with 10.
Booker (hamstring) is out indefinitely while Dario Saric (knee) remains out with no definitive return date.
New Orleans Pelicans
With Booker going down the best healthy player remaining in the series is arguably Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram who led his Pelicans to victory in Game 2 with just one assist shy of a triple-double of 37 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists.
CJ McCollum also flirted with a triple-double delivering 23 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. Jonas Valanciunas posted a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Two x-factors for the Pelicans have been rookie Herb Jones who offered 14 points and Larry Nance Jr. who registered 13 points and six rebounds.
Williamson (foot) is out indefinitely. Kira Lewis Jr. (ACL) is lost for the season.
NBA Betting Trends:
- Suns are 3-6 ATS in their last 9 games.
- New Orleans is 8-4 SU in their last 12 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Phoenix’s last 7 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 12 of New Orleans’ last 17 games.
- The Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Conference Quarterfinals games.
- The Pelicans are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 playoff games as an underdog.
Free Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Pelicans NBA Analysis:
This series just got a lot more interesting without Booker and the young Pelicans brimming with confidence as they return home to participate in postseason play for the first time since 2018 in front of their fan base.
New Orleans won almost every key category in the Game 2 victory, dominating the boards (43-33), fast-break scoring (16-9), dishing 32 dimes, and were lethal from 3-point land shooting 56.7% (17 of 30).
Monty Williams bemoaned his team’s poor transition defense although they won the paint scoring (46-44) and turned over the Pelicans 17 times leading to 28 points.
Phoenix will need Paul to be his very best plus get more from Bridges, Ayton, Johnson, and their bench to keep the odds in their favor.
But, without Booker, the length and athleticism of the Pels combined with the boost of their fans could find New Orleans taking the series lead.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Pelicans +1.5
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