Pelicans vs. Suns Betting Line December 18
Carrie Stroup here with your Pelicans vs. Suns betting line for December 18 Phoenix -3.5, Total: 213.5
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (7-18) at PHOENIX SUNS (11-16)
The Suns will be looking to prevent a three-game losing streak when they host the Pelicans on Friday night.
The Pelicans are coming off of an impressive 104-94 win in Utah on Wednesday. New Orleans was a three-point road underdog and has now covered in two of its past three games. The Suns, meanwhile, were not able to hang with the Warriors for long in Golden State on Wednesday. Phoenix lost 128-103 as a 12-point road underdog and just could not stop the Warriors, allowing them to shoot 52.3% from the field in the game.
The Pelicans have already tasted victory against this Suns team this year, beating them 120-114 in Phoenix on Nov. 25 as a four-point ‘dog and 122-116 as a one-point home favorite on Nov. 22. The Pelicans are 6-3 ATS against the Suns over the past three seasons, but Phoenix is actually 5-4 SU in those contests.
There are some interesting trends in favor of both teams heading into this game. The Pelicans are 21-9 ATS after two straight games giving up 10 or less offensive rebounds over the past two seasons. The Suns won’t be intimidated, as they are 15-5 ATS after a blowout loss by 15 points or more over the past three seasons.
The Pelicans are coming off of a big win in Utah and PF Ryan Anderson (18.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG) had a huge game for New Orleans. Anderson scored 24 points in 34 minutes of action, but it was his efficiency that really helped the team. Anderson was 5-for-10 from the field and 13-for-13 from the charity stripe. He’ll have a good chance to have another solid performance against a run-and-gun Phoenix team on Friday.
PF Anthony Davis (23.3 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.6 BPG) will be looking forward to this matchup, as he has torched the Suns this season. Davis is averaging 29.0 PPG and 18.0 RPG in 39.0 MPG against Phoenix this year. He should be able to dominate the Suns once again on Friday.
One reason things are looking up for the Pelicans is that PG Jrue Holiday (12.4 PPG, 4.5 APG, 1.0 SPG) is starting to get healthy. Holiday is averaging 25.5 MPG over the past four contests and has put up 16.8 PPG and 4.5 APG in those games. His minute restriction could be coming off soon and that will really help New Orleans.
The Suns were playing well in Golden State until around the halfway point in the second quarter. Steph Curry got hot for the Warriors and from there it was all Golden State. The Suns will now look to turn things around and beat a Pelicans team that they have not beaten in two attempts this season.
PG Eric Bledsoe (21.7 PPG, 6.5 APG, 4.3 RPG, 2.1 SPG) was miserable against the Warriors, scoring just six points on 3-for-12 shooting. He will need to be a lot better against New Orleans on Friday.
SG Brandon Knight (20.3 PPG, 5.2 APG, 4.2 RPG) has played well against the Pelicans this season. Knight is averaging 24.0 PPG, 8.5 APG and 3.0 SPG in two meetings with New Orleans and will need to pick up the slack if Bledsoe continues to struggle for the Suns.
PF Mirza Teletovic (9.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG) was one player that really lit it up against the Warriors. He scored 24 points in 24 minutes and it’ll be interesting to see if Phoenix gives him extended minutes on Friday.
- Carrrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
