The Washington Wizards (6-25) travel to face off against the New Orleans Pelicans (5-29) on Friday, January 3rd. This game will be played at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans and televised on Gulf. The Wizards are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Pelicans are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Pelicans. Tip-off is set for 8:00 ET.

Wizards vs Pelicans

The Wizards Are Coming Off A Win

Washington improved to 6-25 this season with a 125-107 win over the Bulls on Wednesday. The Wizards, who were +6 point underdogs, not only won but covered the spread at home. The total points for the game were 232, falling short of the O/U line of 241.

Washington led 55-51 at halftime, then outscored Chicago 36-29 in the 3rd quarter. Heading into the 4th with a 91-80 lead, the Wizards closed out the game strong, outscoring the Bulls 34-27 in the final period.

The Pelicans Are Coming Off A Win

The Pelicans fell to 5-29 on the season after a 119-108 loss to the Heat on Wednesday. New Orleans entered the game as +9 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 227, exceeding the pre-game line of 220.5 by 6.5 points.

New Orleans got off to a rough start, trailing 36-24 after the 1st quarter. They responded with an 11-0 run in the 2nd quarter, but Miami regained control by outscoring the Pelicans 34-25 in the 3rd. New Orleans made a push in the 4th, winning the quarter 32-29, but couldn’t overcome the 90-76 deficit they faced going into the final period.

Wizards Offense Breakdown

Jordan Poole’s 30 points and 6 threes led the Wizards to a 125-107 win over the Bulls, as he hit 10 of his points in the 3rd quarter. Justin Champagnie also added 10 of his 15 points in the 3rd.

Washington connected on 17 threes, shooting 47.2% from beyond the arc and 49.5% overall. Jonas Valanciunas contributed 14 points and 6 assists, while Malcolm Brogdon scored 8 of his 12 points in the 4th quarter.

Pelicans Offense Breakdown

In their 119-108 loss to the Heat, the Pelicans shot 50% from the field but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 26.5% of their threes, making only 9 in total. Trey Murphy led the way with 34 points, connecting on 5 threes at a 33.3% rate. CJ McCollum added 22 points, shooting 56.2% from the field.

Murphy was particularly effective in the first half, scoring 12 points in the 1st quarter and 13 in the 2nd. McCollum contributed 10 points in the 3rd quarter and another 8 in the 4th. Brandon Boston also added 8 of his 14 points in the 2nd quarter, while Dejounte Murray scored 8 of his 12 points in the final period.

Wizards Team Defense

The Wizards put together a solid defensive performance, holding the Bulls to 107 points on Wednesday. Washington allowed 25 points in the 1st quarter and 26 in the 2nd, then gave up 29 in the 3rd and 27 in the 4th. Overall, Chicago shot 44% from the field.

Washington did well defending the three, as the Bulls hit just 14 threes at a 29% clip. The Wizards also sent Chicago to the line 14 times, where they made 11 free throws. Washington grabbed 34 defensive rebounds, allowed 8 offensive boards, and finished with 11 steals.

Pelicans Team Defense

The Wizards put together a solid defensive performance on Wednesday, holding the Bulls to 107 points in a 125-107 win. Washington allowed 25 points in the 1st quarter and 26 in the 2nd, followed by 29 in the 3rd and 27 in the 4th. Overall, the Wizards held the Bulls to 44% shooting from the field.

Washington’s defense was particularly effective from beyond the arc, where they limited the Bulls to 14 made threes on 29% shooting. The Wizards also sent Chicago to the free-throw line just 14 times, where the Bulls made 11. Washington collected 34 defensive rebounds, gave up 8 offensive boards, and recorded 11 steals.

Wizards vs Pelicans Trends

• Across their ten previous road games, Washington has an ATS mark of 3-5-2. Their straight up record in these matchups was 0-10 while averaging 106 points per game.
• In their last ten games at home, the Pelicans have a straight up record of 0-10 while going 3-7 vs. the spread. The team averaged 104 points per game in this stretch.
• Going back to their previous three games as the underdog, Washington has an ATS mark of 2-1 while going 1-2 straight up.
• In their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Pelicans have a straight up record of 4-6 and an ATS mark of 2-8.

Wizards vs Pelicans Prediction

The Wizards come in as the underdog at +6.5, making them our top choice on the point spread. We not only expect them to cover the spread but also believe they have a strong chance of winning the game outright, especially if you’re aiming for a higher moneyline payout.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 233 and our model has the Wizards and Pelicans finishing with a combined 253 points. Our pick is to take the over.

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All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

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* 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.