Pelicans vs. Cavaliers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets
The New Orleans Pelicans (39-25) will look to extend a four-game winning streak when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers (41-24) on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at Smoothie King Center as 6.5-point favorites. The contest airs at 8:00 PM ET on BSNO. The matchup’s over/under is set at 218.
Pelicans vs. Cavaliers Odds
How to Bet on Pelicans vs. Cavaliers
Game Time and Information
Who Will Win Pelicans vs. Cavaliers?
Pelicans and Cavaliers Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread
When they have played as at least 6.5-point favorites this season, the Pelicans are 12-6-1 against the spread.
The Cavaliers have a 5-2 record against the spread in games they were an underdog by 6.5 points or more this year.
The Pelicans and Cavaliers average 12.1 more points between them than the over/under of 218 for this matchup.
Opponents of the two teams average a combined 2.8 more points per game (220.8) than this matchup’s over/under of 218 points.
The average point total for Pelicans games this season is 9.5 more points than the over/under of 218 in this matchup.
The average over/under for Cleveland’s games this year is 5.4 more points than the point total of 218 in this outing.
New Orleans has a 36-26-2 record against the spread this season.
The Cavaliers have a 32-31-2 record against the spread this season.
Pelicans Stats & Insights
The Pelicans outscore opponents by 5.3 points per game (scoring 116.4 points per game to rank 13th in the league while giving up 111.1 per contest to rank eighth in the NBA) and have a +339 scoring differential overall.
The Pelicans rank seventh in the league at 44.7 rebounds per game. That’s 2.3 more than the 42.4 their opponents average.
New Orleans hits 12.5 three-pointers per game (16th in the league) at a 38.3% rate (fifth-best in the NBA), compared to the 13.4 its opponents make while shooting 34.4% from beyond the arc.
The Pelicans average 118.9 points per 100 possessions on offense (eighth in the league), and allow 113.5 points per 100 possessions (sixth in the NBA).
The Pelicans’ offense has been much better at home (117.2 PPG) compared to their play on the road (115.7 PPG). Likewise, their defense has been better at home (111.0 PPG allowed) when compared to road games (111.1 PPG allowed).
Cavaliers Stats & Insights
The Cavaliers put up 113.7 points per game (18th in league) while giving up 109.7 per contest (fourth in NBA). They have a +264 scoring differential and outscore opponents by 4.0 points per game.
Cleveland ranks eighth in the league at 44.3 rebounds per game. That’s 1.6 more than the 42.7 its opponents average.
The Cavaliers hit 13.6 three-pointers per game (seventh-most in the league) at a 36.5% rate (16th in NBA), compared to the 12.2 per game their opponents make, at a 36.3% rate.
The Cavaliers rank 16th in the NBA with 116.6 points scored per 100 possessions, and third defensively with 112.5 points conceded per 100 possessions.
At home, Cleveland scores 114.5 points per game. On the road, it scores 112.8.
Pelicans Key Players to Watch
The Pelicans active leader in points and assists this season is Brandon Ingram, who puts up 21.4 points per game to go with 5.9 assists.
Jonas Valanciunas contributes with 9.5 boards and 2.2 assists per game in addition to his 13.2 PPG scoring average.
The Pelicans get 3.3 three-pointers per game out of CJ McCollum.
Herbert Jones picks up 1.3 takeaways per game, while Valanciunas records 1.0 block per contest.
Cavaliers Key Players to Watch
Jarrett Allen has been among the team’s best in both scoring (16.2 points per game) and rebounding (10.7 rebounds per game) while adding 2.7 assists per contest.
Caris LeVert’s per-game averages this season are 13.9 points, 5.0 assists and 3.9 rebounds.
Georges Niang hits 1.7 treys per game.
The Cavaliers’ defensive efforts get a lift from LeVert’s 1.0 steal and Allen’s 1.2 blocks per game.
Over (218)
Pelicans 115 – Cavaliers 110
