Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Pelicans Predictions, Picks, Odds

Michael Crosson Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

Nationally televised NBA action will resume on Tuesday night with a primetime Western Conference showdown between the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans. Coverage begins from Smoothie King Center at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBA TV.

Sign up to get daily betting columns directly to your inbox!

Score Prediction

Suns 120, Pelicans 116

Best Bets

Over 226 (-110) at BetMGM

Suns vs. Pelicans Predictions

After finishing second in the West with a record of 51-21 SU, Phoenix kept that same train rolling with a similarly triumphant start to the season, as the Suns opened with an impressive 27-8 SU and 18-17 ATS run – with 18 of those victories coming by 10+ PTS.

Despite the absence of Chris Paul, Phoenix has sustained that same momentum all the way through the mid-March too, considering the Suns boast records of 27-6 SU and 18-15 ATS across their last 33 games – while scoring 116.4 OPPG and allowing just 107.2 DPPG during that span.

On the other hand, New Orleans stumbled out to an underwhelming start to the season, as the Pelicans kicked things off with a frustrating 14-26 SU and 18-22 ATS skid – with 16 of those SU losses coming by 10+ PTS.

The Pelicans have played decent basketball since mid-January though, considering New Orleans enters Tuesday riding a relatively solid 14-14 SU and 15-12-1 ATS stretch – while tallying 116.7 OPPG and allowing just 109.5 DPPG across that window.

I’ll take the over here, as the Pelicans are 1-4 SU and ATS in their last five games, while scoring 118.6 OPPG and surrendering 125 DPPG during that timeframe – setting the stage for a competitive high-scoring battle against a Suns squad that’s averaging 117 OPPG across their latest 2-4 ATS stretch.

Suns vs. Pelicans Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

Suns vs. Pelicans Betting Resources

• Matchup: Pacific vs. Southwest
• Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2022
• Venue: Smoothie King Center
• Location: New Orleans, LA
• TV-Time: NBA TV - 8:00 p.m. ET
• Injury Report

Phoenix Suns Betting Analysis

• SU: 54-14
• ATS: 36-32
• O/U: 34-33-1

After battling Utah for the top spot in the conference all the way through the final day of last year’s regular season (51-21 SU), Phoenix was surprisingly rusty out of the gate to start this season, as the Suns dropped three of their first four games – while scoring just 106.3 OPPG across that window.

Devin Booker and company clearly just needed a few days to settle into a rhythm though, considering the Suns boast records of 53-11 SU and 35-29 ATS since their four-game opening skid, while ranking fifth in the league in scoring and fourth in offensive efficiency (114 OPPG, 1.109 OE) – and on the flipside, ranking sixth in points allowed and third in defensive efficiency (106.1 DPPG, 1.032 DE).

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Analysis

• SU: 28-40
• ATS: 33-34-1
• O/U: 27-39-2

After last year’s disappointing 31-41 SU showing, New Orleans briefly kept that same ball rolling with another rocky start to this season, as the Pelicans opened with a rocky 14-26 SU skid – with more than half of those losses coming by double-digits (16).

The Pelicans have turned things around since the acquisition of CJ McCollum though, considering New Orleans enters Tuesday riding a sturdy 14-9-1 ATS run – while surrendering just 107.4 DPPG to their opponents across that window.

Suns vs. Pelicans Head-to-Head

The Suns won two-of-three regular-season matchups against New Orleans last year, with the first matchup staying under the total at a score of 111-86 (U 221.5), while the ensuing two affairs went over at an average of 235 PPG. The Suns are also 2-1 SU against New Orleans this season, with the first and third matchups staying under the total at an average 215.5 PPG, while the second meeting soared over with a score of 123-110 (O 224.5).

Key Players to Watch

• PHX: Devin Booker - SG (25.6 PPG, 5.1 REB, 4.9 AST)
• PHX: Deandre Ayton - C (16.9 PPG, 10 REB, 1.4 AST)
• NOP: CJ McCollum - SG (22.2 PPG, 4.6 REB, 5.1 AST)
• NOP: Jonas Valanciunas - C (17.9 PPG, 11.4 REB, 2.5 AST)

Suns vs. Pelicans Betting Conclusion

After snapping a four-game losing streak with a blowout win over the Rockets on Sunday night (W, 130-105), the Pelicans enter Tuesday’s contest as short home underdogs against the Suns at Smoothie Center Arena – marking the fifth time New Orleans has been an underdog across their last seven games.

Suns vs. Pelicans Betting Trends

• The Suns are 2-4 ATS in their last six games.
• The Pelicans are 1-4 ATS in their last five games.
• The total has gone OVER in four of the last six Suns' games.
• The total has gone OVER in four of the last five Pelicans' games.
• The Suns are 5-2 ATS in their last seven matchups against New Orleans.
• The total has gone OVER in seven of the last ten matchups between Phoenix and New Orleans.

Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson