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

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First Round NBA Playoff action will resume on Thursday night with Game 6 between Western Conference foes as the Phoenix Suns look to eliminate the New Orleans Pelicans. Coverage begins from Smoothie King Center in The Big Easy at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT.

Score Prediction

Suns 112, Pelicans 106

Best Bets

Suns -2 (-110) at Caesars

Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Pelicans Predictions

After finishing second in the West with a record of 51-21 SU last year, Phoenix 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 15-game absence down the homestretch, Phoenix carried that same momentum all the way through the regular-season finish line, considering the Suns enter Game 6 riding an impressive 40-12 SU and 29-23 ATS stretch, while scoring 116.5 OPPG and allowing just 109.5 DPPG during that timeframe.

On the other hand, New Orleans stumbled out to an incredibly frustrating start to the year, 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 Thursday’s Game 6 riding a solid 26-22 SU and 27-20-1 ATS run, while surrendering just 108.9 DPPG to their opponents across that window.

I’ll back Phoenix here, as the Suns averaged 109.7 OPPG on 50.4% FG and 26.3% 3FG across Games 3 through 5 of this series without Devin Booker, and while Phoenix is far less dominant offensively in the absence of its primary scoring threat, the Suns still strike me as the much better team in this series, and I expect them to close things out on the road in Game 6.

Updated on 04/26/2024

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Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Betting Odds

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Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Betting Resources

Matchup: Pacific vs. Southwest
Date: Thursday, April 28, 2022
Venue: Smoothie King Center
Location: New Orleans, LA
TV-Time: TNT - 7:30 p.m. ET
Injury Report
NBA Playoff Betting Central

Phoenix Suns Betting Analysis

SU: 67-20
ATS: 47-40
O/U: 43-43-1

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 contests out of the gate, while scoring just 106.3 OPPG across that stretch.

The Suns clearly just needed a few weeks to settle into a rhythm though, considering the Suns boast records of 66-17 SU and 46-37 ATS since their opening skid, while ranking fifth in the league in scoring and third in offensive efficiency (114.6 OPPG, 1.116 OE); and on the flipside, ranking ninth in points allowed and third in defensive efficiency (107.5 DPPG, 1.047 DE).

New Orleans Betting Analysis

SU: 40-49
ATS: 43-43-1
O/U: 35-50-2

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

New Orleans turned things around with solid defense down the stretch though, considering the Pelicans boast modest records of 26-22 SU and 27-20-1 ATS stretch, while surrendering just 108.9 DPPG to their opponents during that timeframe.

**The total has gone OVER in 12 of the last 17 matchups between the Suns and Pelicans. (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 four matchups of this series 2-2 SU though, with Game 1 staying well under the total with a score of 110-99 (U 224), while the ensuing three affairs cruised over at an average of 228.3 PPG. However, the pace slowed down significantly in Tuesday’s contest as Phoenix away with a double-digit home victory in Game 5 (112-97, U 215.5).

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 bouncing back with a double-digit home victory in Game 5, the Suns hit the road for Thursday’s sixth matchup as two-point favorites over the Pelicans at Smoothie King Center, which is roughly the same number Phoenix was favored by in Games 3 and 4 of this series in New Orleans.

I’ll back Phoenix here, as the Suns shot 11-of-53 from three-point range across Games 3 and 4 of this series in New Orleans (20.8% 3FG) before bouncing back with a solid 10-of-27 performance in their 112-97 home victory in Game 5 (37.3% 3FG); and while Phoenix’s road numbers in this series without Booker don’t exactly bode well heading into Thursday, the Suns still strike me as the far superior squad and I expect them to handle business at Smoothie King Center in Game 6.

Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Betting Trends

The Suns are 14-6 SU in their last 20 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of the last 20 Pelicans' games.
The total has gone UNDER in seven of the last ten Suns' games.
The total has gone OVER in 12 of the last 17 matchups between the Suns and Pelicans.
The Suns are 7-3 ATS in their last ten matchups against New Orleans.

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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