The Philadelphia 76ers and New Orleans Pelicans meet at the Smoothie King Center in a headlining matchup on Friday night. This is a contest of one of the best from the East versus a top team the West. We have our best 76ers vs. Pelicans predictions and betting pick for tonight in New Orleans.
The 76ers are on the third stop in a four-game road trip. Following a Christmas Day win over the New York Knicks, 119-112, the Wizards upended the 76ers on Tuesday night, 116-111. That was a good win for the Wizards in a game where Joel Embiid scored 48 points.
big block. đ
big bucket. đ pic.twitter.com/wH9BHJyiRg— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 28, 2022
via@sixers
This was a one-dimensional game between James Harden and Embiid. DeâAnthony Melton scored just 6 points, while P.J. Tucker had a donut up on the board with 0 points. The starting lineup besides Emiid and Harden had only 21 points.
Too often this has happened in 76ers games. They become too dependent on Emiid and Harden, while others disappear, including the bench players. The 76ers canât afford the same in New Orleans against the high-powered Pelicans.
The Pelicans have been hot with four straight wins entering Friday. This followed a disappointing four-game skid from December 13 to December 19. Theyâre coming off a 119-118 win at home over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Head below for our 76ers vs. Pelicans best bets and betting pick on December 30, 2022.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. New Orleans Pelicans Live Betting Odds:
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia 76ers | -1 (-110) | -115 | Over 229 (-110) |
| New Orleans Pelicans | +1 (-110) | -105 | Under 229 (-110) |
| Team Data | Philadelphia 76ers | New Orleans Pelicans |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Record | 20-13 | 22-12 |
| ATS Record | 20-13-0 | 18-16-0 |
| Away/Home Record | 6-8 | 15-4 |
| ATS Away/Home | 6-8-0 | 11-8-0 |
| Points Per Game | 111.7 | 117.8 |
| Points Against Per Game | 108.0 | 112.6 |
| Field Goal % | 47.5 | 48.3 |
| Three Point % | 38.0 | 36.7 |
76ers vs. Pelicans Predictions
The Pelicans are in a tie with the Denver Nuggets for the lead in the Western Conference. Their record of 22-12 is a game better than the Memphis Grizzlies. Seven teams are within 3.5 games of the Nuggets and Pels, so there is not much room to take a breath in the West.
We could have a very different picture a month from now. There is not a clear contender, and we do not know if any one team is going to emerge as the favorite to go to the NBA Finals. You could make a good argument for several teams.
In the Eastern Conference, the 76ers have the fifth-best record at 20-13. The NBA is often criticized for having to parity, but the East is tight, as well. There is plenty of parity in the NBA this season. We should have a good one between the 76ers and Pelicans tonight.
Zion Williamson Career-High vs Timberwolves
The Pelicans had several contributors in their 119-118 win over the Timberwolves. Zion Williamson really put on a show with 43 points. He shot 14 of 21 from the field after sitting out three games against the Spurs, Thunder, and Pacers.
There were concerns with the shape that Williamson would be in coming of a lengthy rehab stint. He has silenced the doubters with 25.8 points and 7 rebounds per game.
Following the 43-point effort, Williamson is up to a 60.7% field goal percentage. He is converting a lot of high-percentage attempts around the time. The battle between Williamson and Embiid is going to be awfully interesting, but he isnât the only big man that they can throw at the 76ers.
Zion went on a 13-0 run by HIMself đŻpic.twitter.com/nSQYlgIbfR
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) December 29, 2022
via@RTNBA
The Pelicans also have Jonas Valanciunas in the paint. Embiid is a monster, but the Pelicans have more than just one player to push bodies around in the paint. This is a concern for the 76ers tonight.
Mismatch On The Boards In New Orleans?
We should say that the game is probably going to be won and lost on the boards. The 76ers need to fight harder on the defensive glass. They are 29th in defensive rebounding and giving up too many second-chance points.
The Pelicans are not the team to be weak on the glass against. They are sixth in defensive and offensive rebounding. New Orleans has some muscle in the paint that is going to give the 76ers some issues in this one.
Philadelphia is 2nd in the NBA in points allowed per game. Theyâve allowed 108 points on 46.2% shooting. However, the defensive intensity has dropped on the road, with 111.3 points allowed per game and a 47.2% field goal percentage.
76ers vs. Pelicans Betting Pick:
The 76ers canât afford to see a lapse in defensive intensity in New Orleans against the Pelicans. The Pels are third in the NBA with 117.8 points per game on 48.3% shooting. Theyâve been tough at home, with a record of 15-4 going into Friday night. Philadelphia is just 6-8 on the road.
The best offensive threat for the Sixers has been from downtown. The 76ers are the fifth-best team in the league from three. New Orleans should have an answer, though. They are currently the second-best team in three-point defense.
That should provide the Pelicans with a nice counter to the 76ers best offensive weapon. The defense has been effective for the Pelicans at home. Theyâve allowed 109.1 points per game on 46.3% shooting.
For our 76ers vs. Pelicans prediction, weâre playing the Pelicans to cover the spread in a 115-110 final in New Orleans on Friday night.
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