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

12 minute read

Sunday’s slate of First Round NBA Playoff action will conclude with a pivotal fourth matchup between the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans. Coverage begins from Smoothie King Center in the Big Easy at 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT.

Score Prediction

Suns 112, Pelicans 106

Best Bets

Suns -2.5 (-110) at Caesars

Betting On The NBA

Best NBA Betting Sites:

Where to bet on the NBA:

Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Pelicans 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, Phoenix carried that same momentum all the way through the regular-season finish line, considering the Suns enter Game 4 riding an impressive 39-11 SU and 28-22 ATS stretch – while scoring 116.8 OPPG and allowing just 109.3 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 Game 4 riding a sturdy 25-21 SU and 26-19-1 ATS run – while generating 115.7 OPPG and allowing just 109.3 DPPG across that window.

I’ll back Phoenix here, as Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum combined for 64 PTS on 52.4% FG and 41.2% 3FG in Game 3, which still wasn’t enough firepower to take down the Suns without Devin Booker, and while Friday’s contest was undeniably competitive throughout, Phoenix just strikes me as the far superior team in this matchup.

Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Betting Resources

Matchup: Pacific vs. Southwest
Date: Sunday, April 24, 2022
Venue: Smoothie King Center
Location: New Orleans, LA
TV-Time: TNT - 9:30 p.m. ET
Injury Report
NBA Playoff Betting Central

Phoenix Suns Betting Analysis

SU: 66-19
ATS: 46-39
O/U: 42-42-1

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.

Phoenix clearly just needed a few weeks to settle into a rhythm though, considering the Suns boast records of 65-16 SU and 45-36 ATS since that opening skid, while ranking fifth in the league in scoring and third in offensive efficiency (114.8 OPPG, 1.116 OE); and on the flipside, ranking eighth in points allowed and third in defensive efficiency (107.4 DPPG, 1.044 DE).

New Orleans Betting Analysis

SU: 39-48
ATS: 42-42-1
O/U: 34-49-2

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 solid defense down the stretch though, considering the Pelicans enter Sunday’s Game 4 riding a modest 25-21 SU and 26-19-1 ATS stretch, while surrendering just 109.3 DPPG to their opponents during that timeframe.

**The Suns are 6-2 ATS in their last seven matchups against New Orleans. (Getty Images)**

Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans 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 and Pelicans split their first two matchups of this series in Phoenix though, with Game 1 staying well under the total at a score of 110-99 (U 224), while Game 2 cruised over with a score of 125-114 (O 222). However, Game 3 was far more competitive, as Phoenix escaped Smoothie King Center with a narrow 114-111 road victory this past Friday (O 216).

Get the VI Daily Newsletter! Get the VI Daily Newsletter! Email Address *

Key Players to Watch

PHX: Chris Paul - PG (14.7 PPG, 4.4 REB, 10.8 AST)
PHX: Deandre Ayton - C (17.2 PPG, 10.2 REB, 1.4 AST)
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)

Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Betting Conclusion

After stealing a narrow road win in Game 3 without Booker (W, 114-111), the Suns enter Sunday’s fourth matchup as three-point road favorites over the Pelicans at Smoothie King Center, which is roughly the same number Phoenix was favored by in Friday’s contest (PHX -2.5).

I’ll back Phoenix here, as the Suns escaped Game 3 with a victory despite shooting 4-of-26 from three-point range in Friday’s contest (15% 3FG), and while Phoenix’s struggles from beyond the arc partially stemmed from Booker’s absence, I think we’ll see a few more shots fall for them in Game 4 and return to the Valley with a 3-1 lead.

Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Betting Trends

The Suns are 4-2 ATS in their last six games.
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of the last 18 Pelicans' games.
The total has gone UNDER in six of the last eight Suns' games.
The total has gone OVER in 11 of the last 15 matchups between the Suns and Pelicans.
The Suns are 6-2 ATS in their last seven matchups against New Orleans.

Nba News

NBA APR 19, 2024

NBA First Round Playoffs Series Odds, Betting Trends: Everything You Need To Know