2022 NBA Play-In Tournament: New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles Clippers
How to Watch:
- Date: Friday, April 15
- Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
- Location: crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA
- TV: TNT
New to Sports Betting? Click here to read our Beginners Guide and Terms Glossary
Tale of the Tape:
| Clippers | STAT | Pelicans |
| 44-40 | Record | 36-46 |
| 108.4 (23rd) | Points Per Game | 109.3 (21st) |
| 108.4 (11th) | Points Allowed Per Game | 110.3 (13th) |
| 6-4 | Last Ten | 6-4 |
| 25-16 at home | Home/Away Record | 17-24 on the road |
| 24th | Off Efficiency Rating | 20th |
| 8th | Def Efficiency Rating | 20th |
Can’t Miss Offer From Caesars
Los Angeles leaders:
- Paul George, SG. – 24.3 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 5.7 APG, 2.2 SPG, 2.9 3PM/GM
- Marcus Morris Sr., F. – 15.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.1 APG, 36.7% 3FG
- Reggie Jackson, PG: – 16.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 4.8 APG
New Orleans leaders:
- CJ McCollum, SG: 24.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 39.4% 3PT
- Brandon Ingram, SF: 22.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 5.6 APG
- Jonas Valanciunas, C: 17.8 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 2.6 APG, 54.4% FG
Odds courtesy of Draftkings. For the latest odds, click here.
Key Injuries:
- Kawhi Leonard, Clippers: Out (Knee)
- Zion Williamson, Pelicans: Out (Foot)
Odds, Lines, and Past Performance:
- Head-to-head record: Pelicans 3-1 during the 2021 season.
- Season Stats: Pelicans were also 3-1 ATS this season. Three of the four games went under the O/U total.
- ATS Record: LAC is 40-42-1 (16th); NO 42-40-1 (15th)
- ATS Home/Away: LAC is 20-21 at home (15th); NO 20-21 on the road (19th)
- Pace of Play: LAC is 18th in pace, and NO is 21st
The Pick:
- UPDATE: Paul George has tested positive for COVID and has been ruled out for tonight’s game. We still feel the analysis below is relevant to understanding the scope of the game, but the pick above has been changed to reflect the current game conditions.
- The Pelicans’ record against the Clippers this year cannot be ignored, and some teams just matchup well or play certain teams well.
- A big factor for New Orleans has been the arrival of McCollum, who is averaging 25.2 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game on 49.5% shooting in time with the team. He also had 32 points with seven assists and six rebounds in the win over the Spurs, shooting 12-23 from the field.
- However, Los Angeles may have an answer for him in Paul George, who remains one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. In fact, Los Angeles as a team is a stingy defense, as you can see from the ranking above. They also rank 6th in the NBA in field goal percentage allowed, 7th in three-point percentage allowed, and 2nd in true shooting percentage allowed. Their defense is made even better by the return of Norman Powell, a mid-season acquisition from Toronto who fractured a bone in his left foot in February but played 27 minutes against the Timberwolves and looked good, scoring 16 points on 5-9 shooting and adding three rebounds.
- Meanwhile, on the other side, the New Orleans defense leaves a little to be desired. They rank 23rd in field goal percentage allowed, 26th in three-point percentage allowed, and 25th in true shooting percentage allowed. That could be bad news against a Los Angeles team that is 2nd in the NBA in three-point percentage; although, they are only 19th in true shooting percentage due to some struggles scoring inside.
- Los Angeles had a lead against Minnesota late in the game and even saw Karl Anthony Towns foul out, but they were not able to adjust to the smaller lineup that Minnesota put out onto the court and wound up losing the game. I imagine they will be similarly prepared for New Orleans big man Jonas Valanciunas, and I have a feeling that the Los Angeles defense will win out for them in the end.
