New Orleans Pelicans vs. Brooklyn Nets Prediction, Preview, and Odds

In the vast, but quickly fleeting tapestry of the NBA season, the New Orleans Pelicans fly under the radar, boasting an improved 41-26 record that firmly plants them as the 5th seed in the Western Conference drag race. Their recent win over Portland speaks volumes of their depth, with CJ McCollum's 30-point eruption serving as a headline, it was surrounded by a constellation of talent including Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, and Trey Murphy III, each contributing 20+ points. The good times roll down in New Orleans as they have won six of their last seven games. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets languish in the shadows of mediocrity, their 26-42 record relegating them to the 11th spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Despite Cam Thomas' valiant effort, mustering 31 points in a solitary display, the Nets falter under the weight of collective inconsistency, as evidenced by the absence of any other player surpassing the 20-point mark. West meets East on Tuesday.

The Nets lost their only game against New Orleans, 112-85, this season on January 2.

March Forth!

The New Orleans Pelicans are on the verge their first Southwest Division title since 2008, propelled by the transformative dedication of their star forward, Zion Williamson. As ESPN's Brian Windhorst revealed on The Hoop Collective, Williamson's steadfast commitment to physical fitness has become the cornerstone of the Pelicans' run. Shedding over 25 pounds since December, Williamson's transformation has not only elevated his performance but has also ignited a collective fire within the team. The wake-up call came in the loss to Los Angeles in the In-Season Tournament semifinals, where Williamson's lackluster showing under the national spotlight against LeBron James. Since then, he is averaging 23.9 points on an impressive 62.5 percent shooting in March alone. Leading the Pelicans' charge, Williamson has steered them to a commanding position atop the Southwest Division with a 41-26 record. With the Pelicans riding an eight out of nine-game winning streak this month, the momentum is there as they embark on a pivotal four-game road trip, commencing with a showdown against the Brooklyn Nets.

March has proven to be a month of success and navigation for the New Orleans Pelicans, marked by their impeccable performance during a recent 3-0 road trip across the Eastern time zone in Week 20 of the NBA calendar. As they gear up for Week 22, their schedule mirrors the prior journey, embarking on a four-game expedition against Eastern Conference rivals within a compact six-day timeframe, venturing through Brooklyn, Orlando, Miami, and Detroit. While the Nets and Pistons find themselves counting ping pong balls, the Magic and Heat stand entrenched in a fierce battle for positions 4-8, amidst a tight cluster of teams separated by a mere three games. Noteworthy in the Pelicans' itinerary is their frequency of high-margin victories with 15 wins this season by a margin of 20 points or more, including a commanding 27-point dub over the Nets earlier in the year. With Brooklyn's playoff aspirations dwindling, evidenced by Atlanta's 4.5-game lead over them and a middling home record of 16-18, the Pelicans enter this crucial stretch poised to capitalize on their momentum and further solidify their position in the Western Conference standing as we start to close out March.

Control

Following their 122-115 defeat at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs, Dennis Schroder took it upon himself to rally the team's spirits. Reflecting on Schroder's impact, teammate Nic Claxton noted, "Dennis was definitely the loudest voice, trying to get everybody on the same page." Despite the eventual loss, Schroder's tenacity shone through, epitomized by his clutch game-tying three-point shot and a 19-point contribution. Undeterred by adversity, Schroder maintained his unwavering optimism, "Don’t take being in the NBA for granted." Yet, despite Schroder's rallying cries and the team's collective efforts, the Nets find themselves grasping for positivity amidst a challenging stretch. Their aspirations for a Play-In berth now hang by a thread, trailing the final spot by 4.5 games. As the Nets navigate the remaining 14 games of the season, they have a lot of work to and they need the right personnel in the right roles to do it.

On that note, Cam Johnson was sent to the bench. Reflecting on his evolving situation, Johnson emphasizes, "Control what you can control...my job is to help this team win games, and that’s what I’m gonna do, whether I’m starting, coming off the bench, playing 10 minutes or playing 40 minutes." Despite signing a lucrative four-year contract last summer, Johnson acknowledges the struggles that have marred his season, including a string of injuries that have hindered his availability and impacted his statistical output, with a subdued average of 13.7 points per game on a 45.2 percent shooting rate. Nets interim coach Kevin Ollie praises Johnson's professionalism and intensity, affirming the team's focus on what's best for collective success.

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Best Bets

Full-Game Side Bet

Rating:

The Pelicans boast impressive records against the spread, particularly on the road and in recent games, a 19-14-1 ATS record on the road and a 6-1 ATS record since March 1. The Pelicans playing their best basketball, coming off a successful road trip and demonstrating prolific scoring ability with 15 20+ point victories this season, the most in the NBA. They appear poised to continue their winning ways against a Nets team that has been faltering benching Cam Johnson and some internal conflict within the team as they've dropped a lot recently. Conversely, the Nets' struggles, coupled with their poor performance as underdogs 17-26-3 ATS, suggest that they may struggle to keep pace with the Pelicans heading back out East, making the -6.5-point spread favorable for New Orleans.

Prediction: New Orleans Pelicans -6.5

Full-Game Total Pick

Rating:

The New Orleans Pelicans' tendency to slow down and manage the game when they build a significant lead, coupled with the Brooklyn Nets' struggles on the offensive end, betting on the under would make sense with the Pelicans at an O/U record of 14-20 on the road this season and an additional 18-23 O/U record in wins. Furthermore, the Nets' offensive deficiencies, ranking 24th in points per game and 27th in field goal percentage, suggest that they may struggle to generate scoring opportunities against a Pelicans team that has been performing well defensively behind the play of guys like Herb Jones. As a result, the combination of the Pelicans' tendencies to control the pace of the game and the Nets' offensive struggles could lead to a lower-scoring contest, making the under 216.5 a lock.

Prediction: Under 216.5

Starting the show If Anyone Cares at 16 years old, Riley James has risen up the ranks as a podcaster, writer, broadcaster, and filmmaker.  He has hosted several shows in his career and worked as a freelance creator. Riley is also credited with being the youngest credentialed member in MLS history (16). Beginning to cover Major League Soccer full time when he was 17, he also dabbled in writing and commentating for the 2018 and 2020 Olympics, college football, the NBA, the NFL, and European soccer. He has used his experience in covering various sports, coupled with a strong handicapping presence to join our team here at Winners & Whiners & StatSalt.