The Charlotte Hornets have lost two straight games heading into this Friday night matchup. As they continue to slide down the Eastern Conference standings, this is a crucial game. Injuries have been somewhat of an issue for them, but there’s some good news in that regard. The team they’re facing, the New Orleans Pelicans, is dealing with a few injuries of their own.
The New Orleans Pelicans look to be without their two best players on Friday night. Both C.J. McCollum and Brandon Ingram are currently listed as “out.” After picking up quite a bit of momentum, the Pelicans are on a three-game losing skid. Now, they’ve come to a complete stop. Without Brandon Ingram and C.J. McCollum, can the Pelicans come away with a win tonight, take a look at our SGP picks and see.
Game Preview: Charlotte Hornets at New Orleans Pelicans
The Hornets have one of the best offenses in the entire NBA. On average, they put up 114.18 points per game; however, this offense hasn’t saved them lately. The problem isn’t with the offense; it’s with the defense that has allowed 114.85 points per game this season. It won’t matter how many points the Hornets put up if their defense just allows their opponent to score.
The New Orleans Pelicans were doing very well for a significant stretch of games. They won four in a row but have now lost three straight. Considering that they’re missing their two best players, the Pelicans are at a disadvantage. However, they aren’t significant underdogs in this game. Today, they come in as only 1.5-point underdogs in the game against Charlotte.
Against the Spread: Charlotte Hornets -1.5
This is the perfect game for Charlotte to bounce back with. They’ve got a great offense, and New Orleans is missing key pieces. If they want to stop the losing skid, they need to win this game. The injuries sustained to the Pelicans are far worse than their own. The Hornets have also been pretty great against the spread this year. On the road, the Hornets have an 18-15-1 ATS record.
The Total: Over 228.5
When betting the over, you have to take into consideration the Hornets’ defense. This season, they’ve allowed their opponent to score over 114 points per game. Even if the Pelicans are missing a few players, they’ll be able to put up a significant amount of points. Although these two have gone under the total more often in the past, these defenses are much different now.
Win Margin: Charlotte Hornets 1-10 (+190)
We really like this win margin pick because the game is likely to remain close. Each time these two have played each other, the margin of victory isn’t very large. It’s also beneficial to add to your ticket since the odds are at +190. This gives you the chance to capitalize on your winnings along with selecting the spread and total.
To Score 15+ Points: LaMelo Ball
This is a good pick to add because it’s essentially a sure thing. LaMelo Ball is the catalyst for the Hornets’ offense. He’s usually the player doing the most distribution but can put up a lot of points as well.