Tuesday’s game between the New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns looks like a barnburner, but the NBA odds depend on who’s playing.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Phoenix Suns
Tuesday, November 2, 2021- 10:00 PM EDT at Footprint Center
The fine folks at TNT must be having a coronary right now. Tuesday’s matchup between the New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns looked like must-see TV when they wrote up their schedule; now it’s the morning shoot-around that everyone’s focused on. Who’s going to suit up for this game? With so many injured players, the NBA odds for this matchup are on hold at press time, but we’ll give you everything else we can to get you prepared.
Land of Contusion
First off, no, Zion Williamson won’t be there for New Orleans. He has yet to make his 2021-22 debut after undergoing surgery on his right foot during the offseason, one of the biggest reasons the Pelicans are 1-6 (4-3 ATS) right now. But we know about Williamson’s status – it’s Brandon Ingram (minus-0.5 BPM, as per Basketball Reference) we’re not sure about. He’s listed as questionable with a right hip contusion.
And it’s Devonte’ Graham (plus-0.3 BPM), also questionable with left adductor tightness. They’re not the only ones. Deandre Ayton (plus-1.8 BPM) is iffy with a right leg contusion, possibly depriving the Suns (2-3 SU, 1-4 ATS) of one of their best players. They’re already without Dario Saric (knee), so the big-man cupboard in Phoenix is less than full, and Cameron Payne (hamstring) is also on the shelf. Easy to see why the NBA lines are on hold until we get some more clarity.
And yet... if you look at the overseas lines, there’s a big disparity among those books, with Phoenix available at –10 and the Pellies at +12. We wouldn’t trust those oddsmakers any further than we can throw them, which isn’t very far, since they’re overseas. It does show how much confusion there is regarding Tuesday’s contest, though. Hopefully, all will be revealed at the shoot-around.
The Hart Foundation
Generally speaking, we’d be inclined here at the ranch to put the Pelicans in our NBA picks. Sharps used to butter their bread with teams missing a high-profile player like Williamson, counting on the betting public to go nuts and put too much money on the other side. Ingram is a bit of a one-way player, as well, so if that former All-Star is out of the picture, all the better.
Having Josh Hart (plus-1.1 BPM) back in the mix after sitting out Games 2 through 5 makes New Orleans that much more dangerous. Hart was in the starting lineup for Saturday’s game against the scorching New York Knicks; he scored 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting (!) as New Orleans lost 123-117, covering as 8-point home dogs.
Jonas Valanciunas (plus-1.8 BPM) had 27 points and 14 rebounds for his new employers. If Ayton doesn’t play Tuesday, Valanciunas can do some real damage to the Suns, so keep an eye on that shoot-around, bet accordingly, and may the sphere be with you.
NBA Pick: Pelicans (+430) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
