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

Tuesday’s slate of First-Round NBA Playoff action will conclude with a somewhat lopsided Western Conference matchup between the New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns. Coverage begins from Footprint Center in Phoenix at 10:00 p.m. ET on TNT.

Score Prediction

Suns 112, Pelicans 104

Best Bets

Under 221.5 (-110) at BetMGM

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Phoenix Suns Predictions

After finishing second in the West with a record of 51-21 SU last year, Phoenix effortlessly kept that same train rolling with another dominant start to this season, as the Suns opened with a red-hot 27-8 SU and 18-17 ATS run – with 18 of those victories coming by 10+ PTS. 

Despite Chris Paul’s recent 15-game absence, the Suns sustained that same momentum all the way through the regular-season finish line, as Phoenix closed out the regular season with an impressive 37-10 SU and 26-21 ATS stretch – while scoring 117.1 OPPG and allowing just 109.2 DPPG during that timeframe.

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

However, New Orleans has played decent basketball since the trade deadline, considering the Pelicans enter Tuesday’s Game 2 riding a sturdy 24-20 SU and 25-18-1 ATS run – while tallying 115.7 OPPG and allowing just 109.3 DPPG across that window.

I’ll take the under here, as the Suns reached last year’s NBA Finals while scoring 109 OPPG and surrendering 104.5 DPPG throughout the postseason, which was replicated during their 110-99 victory over New Orleans in Game 1 – setting the stage for another low-scoring battle against a Pelicans squad that’s allowed just 104.7 DPPG across their three postseason contests.

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New Orleans Pelicans vs. Phoenix Suns Betting Odds

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New Orleans Pelicans vs. Phoenix Suns Betting Resources

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Analysis

  • SU: 38-47
  • ATS: 41-41-1
  • O/U: 32-49-2

After last year’s disappointing 31-41 SU showing, New Orleans initially retained those low expectations with another underwhelming start to this season, as the Pelicans kicked things off with a frustrating 14-26 SU skid – with more than half of those losses coming by double-digits (16).

New Orleans turned things around with excellent defense down the stretch though, considering the Pelicans enter Tuesday’s Game 2 riding a sturdy 24-20 SU and 25-18-1 ATS stretch – while surrendering just 109.3 DPPG to their opponents during that timeframe.

Phoenix Suns Betting Analysis

  • SU: 65-18
  • ATS: 45-38
  • O/U: 40-42-1

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 to start the year, as the Suns dropped three-of-four games out of the gate – while scoring just 106.3 OPPG across that stretch.

Devin Booker and company clearly just needed a few weeks to settle into a rhythm though, considering the Suns boast records of 64-15 SU and 44-35 ATS since their opening skid, while ranking fifth in the league in scoring and fourth in offensive efficiency (114.8 OPPG, 1.115 OE) – and on the flipside, ranking eighth in points allowed and third in defensive efficiency (107.2 DPPG, 1.042 DE).

The Suns are 5-1 SU in their last six matchups against New Orleans. (Getty Images)

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Phoenix Suns Head-to-Head

The Suns won two of three regular-season matchups against New Orleans last year, with the first meeting staying under the total at a score of 111-86 (U 221), while the ensuing two affairs cruised over with an average of 235 PPG.  However, Phoenix went 3-1 SU against New Orleans this season, with two matchups soaring over the total at an average of 239.5 PPG, while the other two stayed under at 215.5 PPG. The Suns also topped New Orleans in this past Sunday’s series-opener, which stayed well under the total with a score of 110-99 (U 224).

Key Players to Watch

  • NOP: Brandon Ingram - SF (22.7 PPG, 5.8 REB, 5.6 AST)
  • NOP: CJ McCollum - SG (22.1 PPG, 4.3 REB, 5.1 AST)
  • PHX: Devin Booker - SG (26.8 PPG, 5 REB, 4.8 AST)
  • PHX: Chris Paul - PG (14.7 PPG, 4.4 REB, 10.8 AST)

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Phoenix Suns Betting Conclusion

After posting a commanding double-digit win over New Orleans in Sunday’s series-opener (W, 110-99), the Suns enter Tuesday’s second matchup as 9.5-point home favorites over the Pelicans at Footprint Center, which is roughly the same number Phoenix was favored by in Game 1.

I’ll take the under here, as New Orleans is 2-1 SU and ATS since the conclusion of the regular season, while scoring 105.7 OPPG and allowing 104.7 DPPG across that stretch – setting the stage for another low-scoring battle against a Suns squad that surrendered just 104.5 DPPG to their opponents across last year’s impressive NBA Finals’ run.

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Phoenix Suns Betting Trends

  • The total has gone UNDER in 12 of the last 16 Pelicans' games.
  • The total has gone UNDER in six straight Suns' games.
  • The Pelicans are 1-5 ATS in their last six games.
  • The total has gone OVER in nine of the last 13 matchups between the Suns and Pelicans.
  • The Pelicans are 1-5 SU in their last six matchups against Phoenix.