Free NBA Pick: Spurs vs. Pelicans NBA Odds
Looking for San Antonio Spurs vs. New Orleans Pelicans free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Spurs taking on the Pelicans on Wednesday, April 13th, 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 Spurs- Pelicans matchup.
2022 NBA Play-In Handicapping
(34-48) San Antonio Spurs vs. New Orleans Pelicans (36-46)
Date: Wednesday, April 13th
Time: 9:30 PM EST
Venue: Smoothie King Center
NBA Moneyline Odds: Spurs +193 | Pelicans -200 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Pelicans -5.5
NBA Betting Total: 226
Wednesday, April 13th, the tenth seeded San Antonio Spurs and ninth-seeded New Orleans participate in a one-game elimination play-in match. The winner will play the LA Clippers on Friday to determine who advances as the eighth seed and face the top-seeded Phoenix Suns.
The Spurs won the regular-season series 3-1 and also won the only prior postseason matchup 4-3 in 2008.
San Antonio Spurs
It took 26 years, but Gregg Popovich established a new benchmark for all-time wins passing Donnie Nelson, and did it in 368 fewer matches.
Although Pop coached the Spurs to five championships the beautiful symmetry of the timing of this accomplishment is it was arguably his most impressive season at the helm.
Not in terms of the Spurs, overall record but how he got his young roster to perform despite not having a superstar. That said Dejounte Murray took a big step this season.
The point guard is the epitome of the franchise’s much-heralded culture as he was developed within the Spurs system and should be a serious contender for Most Improved Player.
He averaged 21.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 9.2 assists, and 2.0 steals in his 68 games this season while getting his first All-Star appearance in the process.
Lonnie Walker (back) and Romeo Langford (hamstring) are probable. Doug McDermott is out for the season.
New Orleans Pelicans
For a team that started 1-12 and didn’t have Zion Williamson all season the fact they are even in the play-in tournament is a credit to head coach Willie Green and a young scrappy squad who closed strong (7 of 11) down the stretch.
Brandon Ingram continues to impress and when David Griffin traded for CJ McCollum that duo clicked immediately. McCollum replaced Chris Paul as President of the NBPA and that leadership was evident on and off the court.
Several of the Pelicans’ strengths are countered by the Spurs. For example, New Orleans gets to the free-throw line the sixth-most (23.2) but the Spurs commit the second-fewest personal fouls (18.1).
New Orleans also scores 16.6 points off turnovers (ranking ninth) but the Spurs commit the fifth-fewest turnovers (12.7).
While most eyes will be on McCollum and Ingram the x-factor could be Jonas Valanciunas who coincidentally was Jakob Poeltl’s vet in his rookie season in Toronto.
Ingram (hamstring), Valanciunas (ankle), Devonte’ Graham (knee), and Herb Jones (tibia) are all probable for Wednesday. Williamson (foot) is out indefinitely and Kira Lewis Jr. (ACL) is lost for the season.
In the four-game season series, the Pelicans averaged 109.5 points, 25.3 assists, and 44.4 rebounds while the Spurs averaged 108.5 points, 23.3 assists, and 44.5 rebounds.
Brandon Ingram didn’t play in the last two meetings.
As per above these squads cancel out many of the other team’s strengths but the Pelicans possess arguably the biggest advantage ranking third in both offensive rebounding (12.0) and second-chance scoring often generated from those boards.
In contrast, the Spurs rank 13th on the defensive glass and 28th in second chance opponent points allowed (14.9).
While both teams could benefit from postseason experience the Clippers will be heavily favored Friday, and if either of these young squads pulled off that upset the reward would likely be a sweep courtesy of the top-ranked Suns.
San Antonio in particular would suffer by advancing with their draft pick dropping as many as six spots. For a franchise who’ve seldom had lottery picks in the past two decades, that’s a steep price.
Regardless, I’m sticking with the home court advantage.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Pelicans ATS
