Los Angeles Clippers vs New Orleans Pelicans Betting Pick & Prediction 12/30/24
In a Western Conference matchup, the Pelicans will host the Clippers at the Smoothie King Center. The Clippers (-241) are favored by 6 points over the Pelicans (+197). The over/under line is 221 points.
The Clippers (18-13) have won two straight games and are 6th in the Western Conference, while the Pelicans (5-27) have lost nine straight and are 15th in the West.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS VS NEW ORLEANS PELICANS BETTING PICK
The Pick: New Orleans Pelicans +6
This game will be played at Smoothie King Center at 8:00 ET on Monday, December 30th.
WHY BET THE NEW ORLEANS PELICANS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 114-103 in favor of the Pelicans.
- Our projections have Dejounte Murray finishing with 21 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists.
- From the field, we have the Pelicans finishing with a field goal percentage of 44.7% and knocking down 14 threes.
Will the Clippers Make it Happen on the Road?
The Clippers improved to 18-13 on the season with a 102-92 win over the Warriors on Friday. Playing at home, the Clippers were favored by 5.5 points and covered the spread with the 10-point victory. The total score of 194 points fell short of the 212.5-point over/under line.
After trailing 21-19 at the end of the 1st quarter, the Clippers took control by outscoring the Warriors 30-22 in the 2nd quarter and 32-19 in the 3rd. They entered the 4th quarter with an 81-62 lead before the Warriors went on a 14-0 run, but the Clippers held on for the win.
Norman Powell led the Clippers with 26 points, including 11 in the 4th quarter, as they beat the Warriors 102-92. James Harden added 18 points, and Ivica Zubac contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 88.9% from the field.
As a team, the Clippers shot 53.3% from the field, but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 31.2% of their threes with 10 makes. Derrick Jones scored 8 of his 14 points in the 3rd quarter, while Amir Coffey added 11 points, 5 of which came in the 3rd.
The Clippers put together a strong defensive performance, holding the Warriors to just 92 points on Friday. They gave up 21 points in the 1st quarter and 22 in the 2nd, before limiting Golden State to 19 points in the 3rd. The Warriors managed 30 points in the 4th, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Clippers’ defense.
Los Angeles held Golden State to 36% shooting from the field, including just 18% from beyond the arc, where the Warriors made only 7 threes. The Clippers also recorded 6 steals and 10 blocks in the game.
Will New Orleans Win at Home?
After a 132-124 loss to the Grizzlies on Friday, the Pelicans’ season record now stands at 5-27. New Orleans, who were +7.5 point underdogs, couldn’t cover the spread at home. The total points for the game reached 256, surpassing the O/U line of 238.5 by 17.5 points.
A key moment came when Memphis went on a 10-0 run, turning a 65-59 deficit into a 69-65 lead. The Pelicans entered the 4th quarter down 104-88 but outscored the Grizzlies 36-28 in the final period.
In their 132-124 loss to the Grizzlies, the Pelicans shot 44.8% from the field and struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 28.9% of their threes. Trey Murphy III led the way with 35 points, connecting on 5 threes at a 41.7% rate, while CJ McCollum added 32 points, making 3 threes at 37.5%.
Murphy scored 15 points in the 2nd quarter, while McCollum poured in 16 points in the 4th. Dejounte Murray contributed 15 points and 9 assists, despite shooting 37.5% from the field.
The Pelicans struggled defensively in the 2nd quarter, giving up 42 points, which contributed to their 132-124 loss to the Grizzlies. New Orleans allowed Memphis to shoot 47% from the field.
From beyond the arc, the Grizzlies hit 17 threes at a 41% clip. The Pelicans also sent Memphis to the line 35 times, where they made 31 free throws. Defensively, New Orleans recorded 13 steals and 10 blocks.