Pelicans vs. Suns NBA Playoffs Game 2 Predictions and Free Pick (Archive)
The Phoenix Suns almost surely will win their Game 2 Western Conference first-round series at home Tuesday vs. New Orleans, but the question is whether the Pelicans cover. Which way to lean at BMR’s top-rated sportsbooks?
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Phoenix Suns
Tuesday, April 19, 2022 – 10:00 PM EDT at Footprint Center
Pelicans-Suns Game 2 is the late game of the three NBA playoff matchups Tuesday and TNT has the telecast. Up 1-0, Phoenix is a massive -4000 favorite on the series line at BMR’s top-rated books and New Orleans +1500.
I honestly give the Pels basically no shot to win the series unless the Suns lose Devin Booker to injury.
Oddsmakers clearly agree with me as Phoenix in a sweep is the +150 favorite at the NBA odds on the series correct score prop followed by Suns in five at +155.
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The series handicap is already 2.5 games with the Suns -270 at -2.5. Phoenix remains the +220 favorite to win the franchise’s first NBA title, and it should be favored with a home-court advantage throughout.
The Suns are 5-1 against the spread in the past six vs. the Pelicans.
Pelicans Looked Tired in Opener
Did you notice that after winning two games in the play-in tournament simply to reach the official portion of the playoffs both No. 8 seeds in each conference got beaten easily in Game 1 of the first round?
Atlanta was routed 115-91 in Miami on Sunday and New Orleans was beaten 110-99 in Phoenix, barely failing to cover a 10-point NBA betting spread.
The Pelicans almost covered, but CJ McCollum missed a driving layup and Jonas Valanciunas a 3-foot tip-in during the final seconds.
In my opinion, New Orleans looked a bit gassed in shooting just 37.9 percent from the field and 69.2 percent from the free-throw line. McCollum got his 25 points but was 2-for-11 in the first half for just eight points and New Orleans trailed by 19.
Really, the game was over then. The Pelicans scored 34 points in the first half, tying the fewest they put up in any half during the regular season.
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Brandon Ingram was also off at 6-for-17. Valanciunas was 7-for-21 but did set a franchise playoff record with 25 rebounds.
There has been some speculation that the Pelicans might change the starting lineup for Game 2 by inserting Larry Nance for Jaxson Hayes.
Nance, whose dad used to play for the Suns, looked good off the bench with 14 points and six rebounds in 20 minutes (he also was good in the play-in tournament vs. the Clippers), while Hayes had four points and one board in 11 minutes.
Really, this whole series is just a learning experience for the young Pelicans. They could be something next season when (if?) Zion Williamson returns from injury.
That New Orleans did fight back to make Sunday’s opener a bit of a game in the fourth quarter makes me think the Pels have a shot to cover Tuesday.
It might be via the backdoor. New Orleans is 5-1 ATS on the NBA picks in its past six after a loss.
Suns' Paul Takes Over Game
Whatever the shortlist is of best all-time players to never win an NBA title (Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and John Stockton to name four), Suns “point god” Chris Paul is on it.
At age 36 and as the league’s No. 1 overall seed, this probably will be his last best chance and he played like that in Game 1 with 30 points on 12-for-16 shooting, 10 assists, seven rebounds, and three steals.
Paul became the oldest player in postseason history with at least 30 points and 10 assists in a game, a mark formerly held by former Suns star and current Nets coach Steve Nash.
Paul is the fifth player with 10 career playoff games of 30 points and 10 assists, joining LeBron James (22), Michael Jordan (15), Jerry West (14), and Oscar Robertson (12). When New Orleans made things interesting, Paul took over in the fourth quarter with 19 points.
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The Suns got points on their first seven possessions of the quarter for 16 points in 3:57.
"That’s what Chris does down the stretch during games," Pelicans coach and former Suns assistant Willie Green said.
"They’ll put the ball in his hands, and they run pick and rolls. We’ll go back and look at the tape and see how we’ll be better.
We definitely have to make him take tough shots. I thought he hit a few big 3s that gave them momentum.”
Mikal Bridges, who is a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year, was awesome on that end. The Pelicans finished 2-of-16 from the field with Bridges as the primary defender.
Phoenix is now 47-0 this season when leading after three quarters of play, the most wins in the league.
Look, the Suns are winning Tuesday. But the Pelicans just couldn’t buy a basket from in close all night Sunday, including a laughable 3-of-24 from the paint in the first half.
New Orleans won the rebounding battle by 20, which led to a whopping 17 more shot attempts.
The Pelicans had 29 second-chance points to Phoenix’s seven yet went an 11-of-23 after recovering its own misses.
“That allows for them to have so many more extra possessions,” Suns head coach Monty Williams said. “That can tire you out. “
All the Pels have to do is shoot, say, 42 percent from the field, and they will cover in Game 2 if they keep rebounding like Game 1. Phoenix is 1-5 ATS in its past six as a favorite.
Score Prediction: Suns 117, Pelicans 110
NBA Pick: Pelicans +9.5 (-110) 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.