There is a full slate of NBA action set to take place on Friday night, and there are some big games included in that mix. The New Orleans Pelicans are set to visit the Philadelphia 76ers, and this should be one of the best games of the night.
New Orleans is coming into this game having won three of their last four games, and the Pelicans are starting to improve on both sides of the ball. The Pelicans have improved to 27-25 on the year, and they are in a good position in the Western Conference.
Philadelphia is currently dealing with a number of injuries at some key positions, and they have also lost two straight games. The 76ers have dropped to 35-27 on the year, and they are heading in the wrong direction in the standings.
The New Orleans Pelicans are coming into this game as a 5.5-point betting favorite, and the over/under line is set at 226.5 total points.
Pelicans Can Score Some Points
The New Orleans Pelicans are coming into this game scoring 116 points per game this season, and they can actually be more explosive than that. There are seven different players scoring at least 11 points per game this season, and that makes them a tough team to guard.
Zion Williamson has finally been healthy this season, and he is averaging 22 points per game to set the tone for the Pelicans. New Orleans wants to score points in the paint, but they are also shooting 28 percent from the three-point line.
The one thing that has set the Pelicans apart from other teams this season has been their ability to completely shut down opposing teams.
76ers Need to Defend
The Philadelphia 76ers are going to have to play some great defense if they want to win this game, but they have not been great on that end of the floor of late. Philadelphia just doesn’t have the offense needed to outscore teams anymore, and it’s going to be important to set the tone on defense.
Tyrese Maxey is now the biggest star on the roster for the 76ers and he is pouring in 26 points per game. Philadelphia remains a team that wants to shoot a ton of shots from deep, but they need to get better at making them.
It’s been a rough go for the Philadelphia 76ers of late, but playing at home should at least give them a slight boost in this game.
Pelicans Pick Up Big Win
The Philadelphia 76ers looked as if they were going to be one of the best teams in the league this season, but the injury to Embiid has impacted them in a major way. Philadelphia still has some talent on offense, but they have also struggled to get stops in clutch situations.
New Orleans is a team that is really starting to gel, and there are a ton of offensive weapons on this roster. The Pelicans are going to set the tone on defense in this game and then put the game away by lighting up the scoreboard.
Bet the New Orleans Pelicans at -5.5 as they are going to cruise to a big win over this depleted 76ers team.
