Injuries continue to mount for the Pelicans.
Zion Williamson is out indefinitely with a hamstring injury.
Jordan Hawkins (back), Herbert Jones (shoulder), CJ McCollum (adductor) and Dejounte Murray (hand) are also out.
Trey Murphy III (hamstring) is targeted to return against the Nets, but it wouldn't be surprising if the Pelicans were cautious with him — especially considering his injury situation.
The Pelicans have now lost four games in a row and will have to rely on the return of Brandon Ingram and Murphy to stay within striking distance in the West.
Nets vs. Pelicans odds
| team | spread | money line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| net | -1.5 (-110) | -125 | o211.5 (-108) |
| pelicans | +1.5 (-110) | +105 | u211.5 (-112) |
The Nets, on the other hand, have an impressive 4-6 record in their first 10 games despite having the lowest projected win total (19.5) before the start of the season.
So, can New Orleans pull off an unexpected win, or will the Nets continue to be one of the most surprising teams this season?
Given the way the Pelicans play defense, there's no way I'd feel comfortable supporting them.
The Pelicans have the worst defensive rating and defensive rebounding rate in the league, allowing opponents to shoot 50 percent from the field and 38 percent from 3-point land.
Even worse was the Pelicans' interior play, which allowed them to score more than 15 points per game inside the paint.
Do you want to bet on the NBA?
Williamson has played in six games and will likely push that scary number even further.
Fade out the Pelicans here.
I wouldn't be shocked if they started the tank-tank process sooner.
The Play: Nets -1.5 (-110, DraftKings)
Why trust New York Post Betting?
Andrew Norton has handicapped the NBA, WNBA, NFL, College Basketball, Football, UFC, and Golf. During the 2022-23 NBA season, he delivered an outstanding ROI of 14.1%, cashed in 60% of his NBA spread picks, and led Tallysight in SportsIQ metrics.
