Cleveland, OH
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction, Preview, and Odds – 1-16-2023
As soon as Upon A Time In Las Vegas – Wildcard Version
This Monday, the (26-17) New Orleans Pelicans will journey to Cleveland, OH to tackle the (27-17) Cleveland Cavaliers. Tipoff might be at 3:00 PM EST contained in the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. This would be the first time that these two groups have matched up this season, as I’m anticipating a battle on this one.
The Pelicans are coming into this one after defeating the Detroit Pistons, 116-110. They had been environment friendly on the offensive finish of the court docket, as they should constantly assault the basket on this one in the event that they wish to problem the Cavs on the street.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are getting into this recreation after falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 110-102. They struggled on the offensive finish of the court docket, as they should warmth up from the sector in the event that they wish to care for enterprise at dwelling.
This recreation was written/printed earlier than final night time’s outcomes.
Can the Pels Present Up on the Street?
The New Orleans Pelicans are at present in third place within the Western Convention standings, as they path the Nuggets and the Grizzlies by 3.5 video games. On offense, they’re scoring 117.3 factors per recreation and so they have shot 48% from the sector. That is the fourth most factors scored per contest and the eighth-highest staff taking pictures share. In line with dunksandthrees.com, the Pelicans have an adjusted offensive ranking of 114.9, which is the seventh-highest ranking within the NBA. With Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson nonetheless being banged up, CJ McCollum has continued to hold the staff on the offensive finish of the ground. He’s scoring 21.2 factors per recreation on 43.5% taking pictures from the sector. New Orleans has additionally proven that they’ll rating within the paint or on the perimeter. They’ve shot 36.5% from behind the arc, which is the Eleventh-highest three-point taking pictures share within the league. They’ve additionally shot 78% on the charity stripe, which is simply the Seventeenth-highest free-throw taking pictures share within the NBA.
On the defensive finish of the court docket, the Pelicans have been powerful to beat. They’re surrendering 113.3 factors per recreation and their opponents have solely shot 47.1% from the ground. That is the Sixteenth least quantity of factors surrendered per recreation and the Fifteenth-lowest taking pictures share allowed. In line with dunksandthrees.com, the Pelicans have an adjusted defensive ranking of 111.1, which is the fourth-lowest ranking within the NBA. They’ve continued to contest photographs close to the rim and on the surface, as they have not surrendered many open photographs. Their opponents have shit 34.1% from behind the arc, which is the second-lowest three-point taking pictures share allowed within the league. The New Orleans Pelicans have additionally snatched 45.3 rebounds per recreation, which is the sixth most.
Damage Report: Herb Jones PF (Again) is questionable. Brandon Ingram SF (Toe), Zion Williamson PF (Hamstring), and E.J. Liddell SF (Knee) are out.
Can the Cavs Keep Scorching at Dwelling?
The Cleveland Cavaliers are at present in fifth place within the Japanese Convention standings, as they path the first-place Celtics by 5 video games. On offense, they’re scoring 111.5 factors per recreation and so they have shot 48.2% from the ground. That is the twenty sixth most factors scored per recreation, however the seventh-highest staff taking pictures share. In line with dunksandthrees.com, the Cavaliers have an adjusted offensive ranking of 114.2, which is the Twelfth-highest ranking within the NBA. Donovan Mitchell continues to prepared the ground on the offensive finish of the court docket, as he’s scoring 28.8 factors per recreation on 48.6% taking pictures from the sector. Cleveland has additionally proven that they’ve a number of gamers that may warmth up from behind the arc. They’ve shit 36% from deep, which is the Thirteenth-highest three-point taking pictures share within the league. The Cavaliers are additionally taking pictures 78.1% from the charity stripe, which is the Sixteenth-highest free-throw taking pictures share within the NBA.
On protection, the Cavaliers have been probably the greatest groups within the league. They’re at present permitting 107 factors per recreation and their opponents have shot 46.5% from the ground. That is the least quantity of factors surrendered per contest and the eighth-lowest taking pictures share allowed. In line with dunksandthrees.com, the Cavaliers have an adjusted defensive ranking of 109.5, which is the second-lowest defensive ranking within the NBA. Cleveland has continued to contest photographs close to the rim, however their perimeter protection has damage them at occasions. They’ve allowed their opponents to shoot 36.6% from deep, which is the Twenty third-highest three-point taking pictures share allowed within the league. They should shut out on open leap shooters in the event that they wish to problem the Pelicans at dwelling.
Damage Report: Dylan Windler SG (Ankle) and Dean Wade SF (Shoulder) are each out.
Finest Bets for this Recreation
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I might be sticking with the house staff on this matchup and I’m going to put the factors (-5). The Pelicans are nonetheless with out Williamson and Ingram, as I see this hurting them on this recreation. They will not have the offensive firepower to attain sufficient factors to cowl this unfold. In line with dunksandthrees.com, the Cavaliers have the second-lowest adjusted defensive ranking and they’re holding their opponents to the least quantity of factors per recreation. They are going to make it very troublesome for the Pelicans to constantly rating, which is able to permit them to tug away. Now, I additionally see the Cavaliers effectively scoring on this recreation. New Orleans is permitting the Sixteenth most factors per recreation and the Cavs have proven that they’re taking pictures staff, as they’ve the seventh-highest staff taking pictures share. They are going to benefit from their photographs contained in the paint and on the perimeter, because the Pelicans will not be capable to gradual them down. The Cavaliers are additionally (18-4) at dwelling this season, because the Pelicans aren’t wholesome sufficient to problem them on the street.
Decide the Cleveland Cavaliers and lay the factors (-5).
Prediction: Cleveland Cavaliers -5
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Full-Recreation Whole Decide
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I might be hammering the beneath (226) on this matchup, as I do not see both of those groups taking sufficient photographs to push this complete over the quantity. In line with dunksandthrees.com, the Cavaliers have the bottom adjusted tempo ranking within the NBA, as they may gradual this recreation down and restrict the variety of photographs taken from the sector. The Cavaliers may also be capable to smother the injured Pelicans, as I do not see New Orleans scoring sufficient factors to push this complete over the quantity. Cleveland has the second-lowest adjusted defensive ranking and they’re holding their opponents to the least quantity of factors scored per recreation. Sure, the Pelicans have been strong this season, however they’re nonetheless with out Ingram and Williamson, as these have been two of their most constant scorers. With out them, I do not see the Pelicans having sufficient success on the offensive finish of the court docket to push this complete over the quantity. Cleveland can also be solely scoring the twenty sixth most factors per recreation. They are going to permit their protection to be the story of this one and the whole will stay beneath the whole.
Decide the beneath (226) and anticipate a low-scoring, defensive battle on this one!
Prediction: Underneath 226