Los Angeles Clippers vs New Orleans Pelicans Play-In Prediction and Betting Preview
SportsMemo handicapper JM Sports gives his prediction for Friday’s Los Angeles Clippers vs New Orleans Pelicans play-in showdown. At the time of posting, the home Clippers have opened as a 4-point favorite over the road Pelicans, with the total sitting at 216 points.
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Friday, April 15 | NBA Betting Notes |
---|---|
Point Spread: | Los Angeles Clippers -4 vs New Orleans Pelicans |
Total: | 216 Points |
Game Time: | 10:05pm ET / 7:05pm PT |
Arena: | crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles |
TV: | TNT |
Los Angeles Clippers vs New Orleans Pelicans Preview
This is one of the earlier win-or-go-home situations, and we get to see two in one day. It just doesn’t happen that we see this situation this early in the NBA play-offs, and this play-in tournament gives us the opportunity to see something that fans love to see.
Game 7’s don’t roll around nearly as often as a fan of excitement would like to see, but they are about as nerve racking as they get.
Pelicans Have to Fix Poor Defense
New Orleans is in a situation that looks to be a blessing and a curse for this Pelicans squad. It seems like a blessing for them that they can still make the playoffs as a team that finished in 9th place in the conference and ended 10 games under .500, but on the downside, they have to put their 17-24 road record on the line and take down a Clippers team in a win-or-go-home game.
New Orleans has already struggled on the road this season, and they have won just one game against the Clippers in Los Angeles in the last three years.
Now they are forced to walk away with their 2nd win, or walk away from this game with the season ending short of the actual playoff bracket. While they lost by 10 points in their previous head-to-head match-up, the Pelicans walked away with a double digit win in the play-in game.
A team revenging a double digit road loss, coming off a double digit home win is 116-88 in the last five seasons in the NBA.
Although to do that, New Orleans is going to need to turn some things around and play some of their best ball of the season. The Pelicans are allowing their opponents to shoot 52.6% in the last five games, putting up 115 PPG on average, even though that has resulted in a 3-2 record, their offense is up for a challenge with how the Clippers defense is playing.
New Orleans is just 5-13 after out rebounding their previous opponent by 15+ boards in the last two years, while posting a record of just 2-10 off a double digit win against a division rival in the last three seasons.
In just this season alone, the Pelicans are just 4-13 coming off a home win and just 2-10 when that win was by 10+ points. They will have to string together two big games to actually make the playoffs, something they have struggled to do this season.
Paul George Getting hot for Los Angeles
Los Angeles has history on their side, as well as their impressive play as they head into the biggest game of their season up to this point. Dating back to 2011, in a win-or-go-home situation in the playoffs, a home favorite is 49-28, even though they went just 2-6 in the last two seasons!
Although, history alone isn’t enough to win the Clippers this game, yet holding their opponents to under 101 PPG on 40.7% shooting in the last five games, may be a good start and that is exactly what the Clippers have done.
On top of the fact that Los Angeles has seemingly got better as the season has progressed, they are 16-5 in the last two seasons in the month of April, including an 11-1 record at home, closing out the most important month, prior to the postseason.
The Clippers have posted a 14-5 record in the 2nd half of the season against teams < .500, paired with a home record of 25-16, winning 9 of the last 10 games at home against teams under .500.
They are also 42-18 at home in the last two seasons against teams that average 23 or more assists per game in the 2nd half of the last three seasons. They are also 9-4 as a favorite at home this season after consecutive games allowing the opposition to shoot less than 45%, including six straight wins at home, even though they lost their last game.
Even after their loss in the first play-in game, they are still averaging 118 PPG and shooting over 48%, the offense is hot, the defense is hot, and they are playing a team struggling on the road.
Los Angeles Clippers vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction
The Clippers blew a double digit lead in the fourth quarter against the Timberwolves which is unacceptable considering the stakes.
There just doesn’t seem to be a scenario where the Clippers don’t grab a lead and hold on until the end. George and the Clippers want nothing more than to get in the playoffs with a potential Kawhi Leonard return looming for the Suns.
Prediction: Los Angeles Clippers Moneyline (-180)
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THANK YOU!!
I like to thank everyone for following along with the @WagerTalk #NBA Stat Sheet this season.
It helped me to a 64% NBA season which was #1 in Win% at Wagertalk!I will post a sheet during the first round of the #NBAPlayoffs2022!
THANK YOU AGAIN!! pic.twitter.com/9NEye135kt
— Ralph Michaels (@CalSportsLV) April 10, 2022
Los Angeles Clippers vs New Orleans Pelicans Notes from GoldSheet
NBA Stat Sheet
Each day, WagerTalk handicapper Ralph Michaels puts together his NBA Stat Sheet, which offers a head-to-head comparison for how teams are performing in a number of key areas heading into a game. Check out Friday’s sheet, with notes on the Los Angeles Clippers vs New Orleans Pelicans contest.
NBA Tip-Off Show
Join Joe Raineri and a rotating panel of professional handicappers for the NBA Tip-Off Show every Monday-Friday at 4:15pm ET / 1:15pm PT as we discuss the NBA Playoffs. Stay up-to-date on the latest NBA news, stats, analysis, and predictions with our panel of pro sports bettors as they preview the NBA Playoffs, including this Los Angeles Clippers vs New Orleans Pelicans play-in game.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X49NwRGzcig[/embedyt]
NBA Odds Screen
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