Suns vs. Pelicans NBA Preview and Pick for March 15 (Archive)
The New Orleans Pelicans are worth at least a small bet for your Tuesday NBA picks when they host the Phoenix Suns.
Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Tuesday, March 15, 2022 – 08:00 PM EDT at Smoothie King Center
It’s been a while since we talked up the New Orleans Pelicans. They’ve barely made a ripple in the headlines this year without Zion Williamson in uniform – other than how concerned people are that Williamson was largely absent from the team while he tried to rehabilitate his surgically-repaired right foot.
The former No. 1 overall pick did rejoin the team last week, though, and has been cleared for at least some activities, so that’s something. In the meantime, the Pellies (28-40 SU, 33-34-1 ATS) are making a late run at the Western Conference play-in tournament.
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They’re performing much better since acquiring CJ McCollum ahead of the trade deadline, and they’ll be the right NBA pick for Tuesday’s game against the first-place Phoenix Suns (54-14 SU, 36-32 ATS) if they open as 5-point home dogs or longer like they have overseas.
I Still Dream of Oregon
This is assuming McCollum plays, of course. He went into league protocol last Thursday, but head coach Willie Green is optimistic McCollum will be available for Tuesday’s matchup. It will take more than McCollum’s presence to sway us, though; even though he’s been playing at a very high level (plus-7.7 on the Box Plus/Minus charts at Basketball Reference), the Pels are 5-7 SU and ATS with McCollum in the lineup, and split the pair of games he’s sat out thus far.
That trade, though. New Orleans took advantage of the rebuilding Portland Trail Blazers, acquiring McCollum, Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell in exchange for Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Josh Hart, Didi Louzada, Tomas Satoransky and a slew of draft picks.
Losing Hart (plus-0.7 BPM) was a blow to the Pellies, but those other players were very much expendable, and McCollum has made it all worthwhile thus far – even if Nance (knee) is out indefinitely and Snell (minus-2.7 BPM) has been less than swell.
Turn It Off, Brandon
Here’s the kicker that might give New Orleans the edge on Tuesday’s NBA odds board: Brandon Ingram (plus-2.0 BPM) is out with a tender hamstring and not expected to return for another few days at least.
Ingram is one of the few semi-famous active players on this roster, having made the All-Star team in 2020 after coming over from the Los Angeles Lakers in the Anthony Davis trade that brought that pivotal No. 1 overall pick to the Big Easy.
Ingram also isn’t really that good. He’s developed into a quality scorer, that’s for sure, but Ingram’s defense remains sub-optimal at best. McCollum is easily the superior player of the two, and brings more betting value after playing in Damian Lillard’s long shadow back in Portland.
Combine that with Cameron Johnson (quadriceps) sitting this game out for Phoenix alongside Chris Paul (thumb), and yes, we’ll be recommending New Orleans for your NBA picks, thank you kindly.
NBA Pick: Pelicans +6 (-105) with Bovada (visit our Bovada 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.