pelicans vs wizards nba prediction
PublishedDecember 13, 2023,            Posted By: Maria Uebelhor
Last updated:December 13, 2023 , ,

NBA: Pelicans vs Washington Wizards Prediction 12/13/2023

The New Orleans Pelicans (13-11) travel to face off against the Washington Wizards (3-19) on Wednesday, December 13th. This game will be played at Capital One Arena in Washington and televised on MNMT. The Pelicans are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Wizards are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Timberwolves. Tip-off is set for 7:00 ET.

Pelicans vs Wizards

The Pelicans Are Coming Off A Winnew orleans pelicans

The Pelicans beat the Timberwolves in their most recent game, ending with a score of 121-107. Not only did the Pelicans win this game straight-up, but they also covered the spread as -4.5 point favorites. Before the game, the over/under line was 222 points, and both teams ended up surpassing that mark.

When breaking down the Pelicans’ last ten games, they are 6-4 and come into today’s game vs. the Wizards with an overall record of 13-11. In road games this season, the Pelicans are 4-7, but are 9-4 when playing at home.

Presently, New Orleans boasts an ATS record of 14-10, which is above .500 against the spread. During this season, New Orleans has a 5-5 record against the spread as favorites and 9-5 as underdogs.

The Wizards Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

In their latest game against the 76ers, Kyle Kuzma was the top scorer for the Wizards’ offense, scoring 21 points and shooting 9/17 from the field. Bilal Coulibaly finished 2nd on the team with 13 points, but Washington ended the game with a 146-101 loss.

When it comes to the Wizards, they have a 3-19 record overall and are looking to get a win against the Pelicans. In road games, the Wizards are 2-12 this season while going 1-7 at home.

Washington’s ATS record is currently below .500 at 9-13 for the season. In their last seven home games, Washington has been unable to cover the spread, and they maintain an ATS record of 1-7 at home compared to 8-6 on the road.

Pelicans Offense Breakdown

Through 24 games the Pelicans are averaging 113.8 points per contest, placing them 16th in the NBA. So far, the Pelicans are averaging 99.2 possessions per game, which places them below the NBA average. Not only does the team’s offense play at a slower pace, but they their overall lack of efficiency has them ranked 16th in made field goals per game.

Wizards Offense Breakdown

For the season, the Washington offense is the 10th ranked unit in the NBA, at 115.6 points per contest. Coming into today’s game, the Wizards will be looking to improve their 3-point shooting numbers, as they are averaging just 11.7 made 3’s per game. Washington appears to be a candidate to have some offensive regression as not only are they a below average outside shooting unit, but they are generating free-throws at a rate below the NBA average.

Pelicans Team Defense

At this time, the Pelicans’ defense is positioned 18th in the NBA, permitting 113.9 points per game.

When it comes to forced turnovers, the Pelicans are forcing 13.2 per game, which is 14th in the league. They also come into the game sitting 23rd in blocked shots at 4.5 per game.

Wizards Team Defensewashington wizards

Facing New Orleans, the Wizards aims for a better defensive performance, given their current average of 126.3 points allowed per game (30th).

When it comes to forced turnovers, the Wizards are forcing 13.9 per game, which is 20th in the league. They also come into the game sitting 18th in blocked shots at 4.8 per game.

Key Players For The Pelicans And Wizards

Our projections for today’s game indicate that Zion Williamson will be the primary scorer for the Pelicans, with 16 points and going 7/10 from the field. This season, he is averaging 22.9 points per game along with 5.5 boards.

As for Washington, Kyle Kuzma is projected to be the primary scorer for the Wizards. Our forecast has him finishing the game with 18, and adding 6 rebounds. Throughout the season, he has maintained a 47.5% field goal shooting rate and is averaging 22.8 points per game.

Pelicans vs Wizards Trends

  • Through their last ten road games, New Orleans has an ATS record of just 3-7. However, their overall record was 3-7 while averaging 109 points per game.
  • In their last five games at home, the Wizards have a straight up record of 1-4 while going 2-3 vs. the spread. The team averaged 113 points per game in this stretch.
  • Spanning across their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Wizards have gone 4-6 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 1-9.
  • In their last five games as the betting favorite, the Pelicans have a strong straight up record of 3-2. In addition, their ATS record was 3-2 in these scenarios.

Pelicans vs Wizards Prediction

The Pelicans is our selection to secure the victory, with a projected score of 118-110. We also like them to cover the spread, so we suggest betting on the Pelicans at -7.5.

Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 241 and given that our model is projecting 228 points between the teams, we like the under.

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.