The Los Angeles Clippers (42-23) travel to face off against the New Orleans Pelicans (39-26) on Friday, March 15th. This game will be played at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans and televised on BSNO. The Clippers are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Pelicans are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Bulls. Tip-off is set for 8:00 ET.
Clippers vs Pelicans
The Clippers Are Coming Off A Win
The Clippers picked up a win over the Bulls in their latest game, finishing with a score of 126-111. The start of the second half saw the Clippers in the lead, at 64-53.
Coming into today’s game against the Pelicans, the Clippers are looking to stay above .500. So far, they are 42-23 overall. In terms of their record against other Western Conference teams, the Clippers are 25-17 and are 17-6 in non-conference games.
Currently, Los Angeles holds an above .500 ATS record of 33-32 so far this year. Los Angeles has not been good vs. the spread in their last two home games, and they are 16-16 ATS at home compared to 17-16 on the road.
The Pelicans Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
The Pelicans’ most recent game versus the Cavaliers saw Zion Williamson lead the Pelicans with 33 points while shooting 13/21 from the field. Brandon Ingram finished 2nd on the team with 20 points, but New Orleans ended the game with a 116-95 loss.
With an overall record of 39-26, the Pelicans are above .500 as they prepare to face the Clippers. In Western Conference games, the Pelicans are 24-18 while going 15-8 in non-conference play.
New Orleans has an ATS record above .500, currently standing at 35-29 against the spread. When playing on the road, the Pelicans hold an ATS record of 18-15 in contrast to a 17-14 record against the spread when playing at home.
Clippers Offense Breakdown
The Los Angeles offense will take the floor in today’s game with the league’s 11th ranked offense at 117 points per game.
When it comes to scoring, the Clippers are 11th in the league at 117 points per game. On the road, they are averaging 117.3 points per game.
In terms of field goal percentage, the Clippers are 6th in the NBA at 49%. They are also 2nd in three-point shooting at 38%.
So far this season, the Clippers have outscored the NBA scoring average in 53.8% of their games. In terms of pace, they are 27th in the league at 96.8 possessions per game.
Pelicans Offense Breakdown
Through 65 games games, New Orleans is averaging 116.1 points per game (13th).
At home, the Pelicans are averaging 116.5 points per game, which is 14th in the NBA. Overall, they are 13th in the league in scoring at 116.1 points per game. In terms of pace, New Orleans is 17th in the NBA.
When it comes to shooting, the Pelicans are 8th in field goal percentage at 48%. Inside the arc, they are 12th in two-point shooting at 55%. From three-point range, they are 5th in the league at 38%.
So far this season, New Orleans has outscored the NBA scoring average in 55.4% of their games. In terms of free throws, they are 12th in the league in makes and 8th in attempts.
Clippers Team Defense
On defense, the Clippers come into the game ranked 11th in the league in points allowed at 112.7 per game. Over their last three games, the team is allowing 117.7 points per contest (20th). Inside the arc, the Clippers defense is giving up a shooting percentage of 54.0% and 36.1% from three-point territory.
Pelicans Team Defense
Currently, the Pelicans’ defense holds the 8th rank in the NBA, allowing 111.2 points per game. In their previous matchup vs. the Cavaliers, the Pelicans’ defense struggled, giving up a field goal percentage of 51% leading to 116 points.
Key Players For The Clippers And Pelicans
For today’s matchup, we project Kawhi Leonard to lead the scoring for the Clippers, putting up 24 points and shooting at a rate of 9/17. For the season, he has been averaging 23.7 points per game, in addition to 6.1 rebounds.
On the flip side, our predictions place Zion Williamson as the leading scorer for the Pelicans. We expect him to conclude the game with a team-high 22 while also collecting 6 rebounds. Throughout the season, he has maintained a 57.8% field goal shooting rate and is averaging 22.3 points per game.
Clippers vs Pelicans Trends
- Through their last ten road contests, the Clippers offense has averaged 116 points per game while allowing an average of 114. Los Angeles posted an overall record of 8-2 while going 5-5 ATS.
- Although New Orleans has a straight up record of 8-2 in their last ten home games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 5-4-1. The team averaged 112 points per game in these games.
- As the betting underdog, the Clippers have an ATS record of 3-2 in their last five games. In these matchups their, straight up record was 3-2.
- Going back to their last ten games as the favorite, the Pelicans have a straight up record of 7-3. But, their mark vs the spread was just 5-4-1.
Clippers vs Pelicans Prediction
As the underdogs with a spread of +6.5, we recommend going with the Clippers on the point spread. We not only see them covering the spread but also have a strong likelihood of winning this one outright, especially if you’re seeking a higher payout on the moneyline.
As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 215.5, and our model projects the Clippers and Pelicans to reach a combined total of 225 points. Our bet is on taking the over.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:March 15, 2024 Clippers, Pelicans