The Clippers are hosting the Pelicans on Sunday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Los Angeles is favored by 7.5 points and this game carries a total of 223.5 points.
Let’s dive into my preview and pick for the game.
Clippers vs. Pelicans Preview
The Clippers have to wait one more day before Darius Garland (toe) makes his team debut, but Kawhi Leonard (illness) will return Sunday after missing Thursday’s 94-88 loss to the Timberwolves. The forward is averaging a career-high 28 PPG and leads Los Angeles in plus/minus this season.
The Clippers are only 5-5 with Leonard active since James Harden played his last game with the Clippers, as the team is still trying to find it’s footing deadline moves. Newcomer Bennedict Mathurin has been a nice fit with the Clippers, averaging 20.7 PPG in his first six games with the team, but Los Angeles doesn’t have a legitimate scorer after Leonard and Mathurin. Still, these two are a solid duo. Leonard and Mathurin could thrive in this spot, as the Pelicans rank 28th in defensive rating this season and they are playing their second game in two nights.
This 19-42 New Orleans team that ranks 25th in net rating this season is only 3-7 on the second leg of back-to-backs this season. However, the Pelicans have won four straight and they will be getting some help tonight with Trey Murphy III (shoulder) returning from a five-game absence. Zion Williamson (ankle) is questionable tonight after he exited the last game after only logging 11 minutes.
Given this is the team’s second game in two nights and the Pelicans’ poor record, it’s hard to imagine the often injured Williamson suits up. Murphy, Dejounte Murray and Saddiq Bey will all take on bigger scoring workloads if Williamson sits. While he has only played in two games since returning from the torn Achilles he suffered last season, Murray has been great thus far, leading the team in plus/minus while averaging 15 points and 6.0 assists in 25.5 minutes per game.
Its been great to see Murray be effective after the major Achilles injury and he should only get better as he gets more games under his belt. Especially if Williamson is out, the Pelicans will need Murray to provide a strong stat line if they want a chance of beating the Clippers.
Clippers vs. Pelicans Pick, Best Bet
With Leonard back and the Clippers being the more rested team, they should get a win tonight over the Pelicans. A 7.5-point spread, however, feels like too much for this matchup with New Orleans entering on a four-game win streak.
The Pelicans are 34-26-1 ATS and they are a league-best 12-6 ATS following a win this season, so backing them to cover is the right move.
