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Free Pick: Suns vs. Pelicans Odds
Looking for Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Pelicans Free NBA predictions? NBA betting sees the Suns taking on the Pelicans on 12/26 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA predictions like this Suns Pelicans free pick.
2025 NBA Handicapping – Phoenix Suns vs New Orleans Pelicans
(16-13) Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Pelicans (8-23)
Date: Dec 26, 2025
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Venue: The Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
NBA Moneyline Odds: Suns -195 | Pelicans +175 (Bet Now!)
Today’s NBA Point Spread Betting Odds: Suns -5.5| Pelicans +5.5
NBA Basketball Gambling Total: O/U: 240.5
Here’s why I’m backing the underdog home team, New Orleans, as outlined in my Suns-Pelicans free pick & gambling prediction for this matchup.
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Suns vs. Pelicans Gameday
Boxing Day serves up a nine-game slate, including the Phoenix Suns versus the New Orleans Pelicans.
Both teams last played on Tuesday and had Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off.
Phoenix entered the holiday on a high, having blasted the Lakers 132-108. Six Suns scored in double figures with Dillon Brooks leading the way, offering 25 points, while Devin Booker served up a double-double of 21 points and 11 assists.
New Orleans has been on a heater but hit a wall versus the Cavaliers, losing 118-141. Five Pelicans scored in double digits with reserve Zion Williamson leading his team, offering 26 points and five rebounds.
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Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Pelicans Odds & Last 5
This is the second meeting between the clubs this season, with the Suns up 1-0 in the series. Last year, the squads played three times, with the Pelicans prevailing 2-1 in the set.
Phoenix is dealing with a tough schedule segment and enters this contest with a 2-3 record through the last five matches. The Suns currently hold the seventh seed with a record of 16-13.
In contrast, New Orleans may still be cellar dwellers, but they’ve finally gotten a bit healthier and are reaping the benefits of that with a 4-1 record through the last five (they had won five in a row). They sit in the 14th slot with a record of 8-23.
Entering this matchup, the Suns are 5.5-point favorites to win with an over/under of 240.5 points.
Suns Stats
Phoenix ranks 13th offensively (114.5) and 12th defensively (113.7) while sitting 15th in net rating (+0.8) and ranks 22nd in pace (99.87).
The West’s seventh seed averages 114.9 points per game while its opponents average 113.9 points. In terms of dimes and boards, Phoenix averages 25.5 (20th) and 41.9 (24th), respectively.
Phoenix’s team leaders* are Devin Booker for scoring (25.4 points) and assists (6.6), Mark Williams for rebounds (8.0) and blocks (0.9), and Grayson Allen for steals (1.7).
As a team the Suns shoot 36.4% from the perimeter with five players who average between 39.2% and 100.0%.
*Minimum 10 games played
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Pelicans Stats
New Orleans ranks 25th (112.0) on offense and 27th on defense (118.9). Additionally, the Pelicans hold the 26th-ranked net rating (-6.8) and also run the ninth-quickest pace (101.82).
The West’s 14-place Pelicans average 115.5 points per game while their opponents average 122.8 points. In terms of dimes and boards, New Orleans averages 24.9 (24th) and 43.3 (22nd), respectively.
New Orleans’ team leaders* are Zion Williamson for scoring (21.8), Derik Queen for assists (4.1) and rebounds (6.8), Trey Murphy III for steals (1.7), and Yves Missi for blocks (1.1).
As for the perimeter, there are four Pelicans who shoot between 36.6% and 50% while the team averages 34.4% from deep.
*minimum 10 games
Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Pelicans bottom line:
Before the recent winning streak, this match would’ve been an easy nod for the Sun,s but it’s not that simple now that New Orleans appears to have rediscovered their identity.
Examining the last six games reveals that the Pelicans rank in the top 10 of key categories, so don’t fall for the “easy Suns win” rhetoric.
Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Pelicans Basketball Betting Trends
- Phoenix is 14-6 ATS in its last 20 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 13 of Phoenix’s last 14 games when playing in New Orleans.
- Phoenix is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games on the road.
- Also, New Orleans is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
- The total has gone OVER in 8 of New Orleans’ last 11 games.
- Additionally, New Orleans is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games.
Suns Pelicans Free Pick: Pelicans +5.5
Here is my Suns Pelicans free pick. The big question for this matchup falls on the Pelicans… will they continue to bring Zion Williamson in off the bench? Perhaps because the winning streak ended, they’ll shift him back into the starting rotation; however, their team is rolling with him as a reserve, so it’s not a no-brainer decision.
The Suns have struggled in their current schedule segment while the Pelicans are feasting of late and beating both low and high tier clubs.
Injuries still could play a factor as the Suns are without Grayson Allen and Jalen Green, while the Pelicans won’t have Herb Jones or Dejounte Murray, and Jordan Poole is a game time decision.
Notably, pundits always focus on the last game before Christmas and the first back as a difficult match for teams to focus in. That said, I’m leaning toward the home team, who’ll have the benefit of the crowd to spur them on.
Therefore, take the points and the Pelicans in this contest.
Today’s NBA Free Pick
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NBA Betting Tweet Of The Day
“He can play like this for the rest of his life… He’s gonna be in New Orleans for 10-12 years playing just like that”
— Jeff Teague and the @club520podcast react to Derik Queen’s highlights last night pic.twitter.com/gYPOvgqrFl
— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) December 23, 2025
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