Pelicans vs Magic NBA Prediction, Pick and Preview, 02/27/23

Odds

2022-2023 season stats

Preview

The New Orleans Pelicans return home to host the Orlando Magic at the Smoothie King Center on Monday night. These teams already faced each other earlier this season in Orlando where the Magic took the win 123-110. Franz Wagner had 30 points and nine assists, Cole Anthony scored 22 off the bench. Orlando pulled away in the fourth quarter behind Wagner and its backups. Magic starters Paulo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr. and Markelle Fultz did not play in the final period.  

New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans have had a challenging season with injuries and player movement affecting their performance. Despite their struggles, the team has been solid at home, winning 20 out of 30 games at the Smoothie King Center. However, they will need to step up their game if they hope to secure a win against the Orlando Magic.

The Pelicans are led by CJ McCollum, who has been a consistent scorer for the team, averaging 21.1 points per game and making 2.8 3-pointers per game. Jonas Valanciunas has also been in excellent form, shooting an impressive 60.8% and averaging 15.5 points per game in the last 10 games. However, the team will be missing their star player, Zion Williamson, who is currently out with a hamstring injury.

The absence of Williamson has been a significant blow to the Pelicans' performance. He is a dynamic player who can score from anywhere on the court, averaging 27.0 points per game this season. Without him, the Pelicans have struggled to maintain their offensive rhythm, scoring only 112.7 points per game in their last 10 games. However, the team has shown resilience and the ability to compete without him, with McCollum and Valanciunas stepping up to fill the void.

Mike Conley has also been an essential contributor to the Pelicans' success, averaging 10.7 points and 7.6 assists per game. His playmaking ability has been crucial to the team's offensive flow, as he consistently finds his teammates in scoring positions. Lauri Markkanen has been in excellent form over the past 10 games, averaging 24.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. His scoring and rebounding have been a significant boost for the Pelicans, especially in Williamson's absence.

On the defensive end, the Pelicans have struggled to contain their opponents, allowing an average of 115.6 points per game in their last 10 games. The team has also been outrebounded by their opponents, with an average of 44.0 rebounds per game compared to their opponents' 48.0 rebounds per game. The Pelicans will need to address these defensive and rebounding issues if they hope to turn their season around.

Injuries have been a significant factor in the Pelicans' struggles this season. In addition to Williamson, E.J. Liddell is out with a knee injury, while Larry Nance Jr. is listed as out with a groin injury. The team will need to rely on their depth and the next man up mentality to fill the void left by these injuries.

Orlando Magic

The Magic may not have the best record in the league, but they have certainly shown signs of improvement in recent games. With young talent like Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero, the team has some exciting prospects for the future. Wagner, in particular, has been a standout player for the team, shooting at a high percentage from beyond the arc and averaging nearly 19 points per game.

However, the Magic will be missing Cole Anthony, who has been a consistent scorer and playmaker for the team. Anthony's absence could certainly hurt the team's offensive production, as he has been averaging over 16 points and 4 assists per game this season.

Despite these challenges, the Magic have been playing relatively well in their recent games, posting a 6-4 record over their last 10 games. Their offensive output has been solid, with an average of 109.6 points per game. This has been helped by their passing game, which has been strong with an average of 22.9 assists per game.

On the defensive end, the Magic have also been doing a good job of limiting their opponents' scoring. They have been forcing turnovers and blocking shots, which has helped to keep their opponents to an average of 108.0 points per game. This shows that the team has been working hard on both ends of the court, and that they are making improvements in all areas of their game.

Shooting wise, the Magic have been doing well, with a shooting percentage of 45.5% from the field. This has helped them stay competitive in their games and secure some important victories. With young talent like Wagner and Banchero, the team has some exciting prospects for the future.

BETTING TRENDS

Orlando are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games.

The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Orlando's last 8 games.

Orlando are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games against New Orleans.

Orlando are 7-2 SU in their last 9 games against New Orleans.

Orlando are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games on the road.

Orlando are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games when playing on the road against New Orleans.

New Orleans are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games.

The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New Orleans' last 6 games.

New Orleans are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games.

The total has gone OVER in 6 of New Orleans' last 7 games against Orlando.

New Orleans are 3-6 SU in their last 9 games at home.

Prediction

Based on the statistics and information provided, it is possible that the game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Orlando Magic will be a low-scoring game. Both teams have struggled offensively, with the Pelicans averaging only 112.7 points per game in their last 10 games, and the Magic averaging 109.6 points per game in their last 10 games. Additionally, the Magic will be without one of their key offensive players, Cole Anthony, due to a wrist injury.

On the defensive end, both teams have been performing relatively well, with the Magic limiting their opponents to an average of 108.0 points per game in their last 10 games, and the Pelicans allowing an average of 113.0 points per game. The Magic have also been forcing turnovers and blocking shots, which could make it difficult for the Pelicans to get their offense going.

The betting trends also suggest that the game could be low-scoring, with the total going under in 7 of the Magic's last 8 games and in 4 of the Pelicans' last 6 games. Additionally, the under has hit in 6 of the last 7 games between the Pelicans and the Magic.

Therefore, it is possible that the game will be a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to score and relying on their defense to keep the score low. Take the under as the NBA pick today.

PICK: Under 225.5 (-110)

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