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Best Bet: Pelicans (-5.5) Vs Spurs $$
I have been calling for the Pelicans to make the playoffs for a couple of months now and I do not intend on backing down from that now. In order to get an invite to play the number one ranked Suns in the first round, New Orleans first needs to win this game tonight. They also need to travel to LA and beat the Clippers Friday night. It is a tough task, but it is not impossible.
The Pelicans started the season horribly without their dominant star Zion Williamson. They were 7-20 in mid-December but managed to play above (.500) from that point forward. It took them until mid-season to find a team identity and turn the corner. Herbert Jones and Jose Alvarado emerged as quality rookies for the team, while the addition of CJ McCollum at the trade deadline was a huge boost.
New Orleans’s playoff roster is very solid with a shortened bench and in a one-game series such as this, they could be very dangerous. Brandon Ingram can be a dominant player and will be asked to play big minutes tonight despite struggling with a hamstring injury.
The Spur’s biggest problem this season has been closing out close games. They too often came up short in clutch time which was reflected in their sub-par record. I suspect this may be a problem for them again tonight. The (-5.5) spread is a bit concerning for this pick as it could be a close game. It may be worth taking a look at the money line instead of the spread at (-220).
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