Pelicans vs Suns Picks and Predictions: NOLA Makes Life Tough on Phoenix

The Phoenix Suns have a chance to win nine games in a row when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday. The Suns earned a 20-point win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in their first game without Chris Paul last night, and they’ll be looking to turn in another team effort against a lousy Pelicans squad. 

Will Phoenix take care of business against New Orleans at the Footprint Center? Keep reading our Pelicans vs. Suns NBA picks and predictions to find out.

Pelicans vs Suns odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

The Suns were 7-point favorites when this game became available on sportsbooks, but the line is now floating between 6.5 and 7.5. The total, which opened at 227.5, has gone all the way up to 229.5 in some spots.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Pelicans vs Suns predictions

• Prediction: Pelicans +7.5 (-110)
• Prediction: Under 229.5 (-115)
• Best bet: Booker Over 7.5 assists (-114)

Predictions made on 2/25/2022 at 11:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Pelicans vs Suns game info

• Location: Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
• Date: Friday, February 25, 2022
• Tip-off: 9:00 p.m. ET
• TV: Bally Sports Arizona, Bally Sports New Orleans

Pelicans vs Suns betting preview

Key injuries

Pelicans: Larry Nance Jr. F (Out), Kira Lewis Jr. G (Out), Zion Williamson F (Out).
Suns: Cameron Payne G (Questionable), Chris Paul G (Out), Frank Kaminsky C (Out), Dario Saric F (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.

Betting trend to know

The Pelicans are 6-0 against the spread in their last six road games. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Suns.

Pelicans vs Suns picks and predictions

Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.

Spread analysis

The Suns looked really solid in a win over the Thunder last night, as they won by 20 in their first game without Paul. Phoenix did, however, have to fly back home to play the second night of a back-to-back tonight, while New Orleans hasn’t played since the All-Star break. That means that the Pelicans will have all the energy in the world, while the Suns could be a bit tired when they take the floor in this one. 

This New Orleans team is also better than the one that Phoenix faced earlier in the season, as the Pelicans really boosted their offense with the deadline acquisition of CJ McCollum. With the Suns likely to slip a little on the defensive end without Paul, New Orleans’ backcourt could pose some problems for Phoenix. That would be massive in a game with a rather large spread, as the Pelicans won’t have any trouble hanging around if their backcourt is holding its own here. 

The play of Jonas Valanciunas could be the X-factor here. The Suns usually have a big advantage on the inside with their center duo of Deandre Ayton and JaVale McGee, but Valanciunas has had a good season for the Pelicans. He’s a really talented post player, and his physicality could make things difficult on Ayton. New Orleans also starts Jaxson Hayes, an absolute ball of energy, at the four. 

Overall, the Pelicans should be able to keep this relatively close, with the Suns pulling away in crunch time. 

Prediction: Pelicans +7.5 (-110) 

Over/Under analysis

The Under is 18-6 in the games in which New Orleans has played as a road underdog this season, and the total in this game looks a bit too high. In the first meeting between these teams in Phoenix, the two combined to score only 212 points in a game with a total of 214.5. The Suns also looked locked in on defense against the Thunder last night, so this group could have a lot of energy as it looks to prove that it can win games without Paul. 

The Pelicans are also just 22nd in the league in pace of play, so it’s not like they’ll be looking to speed up the Suns in this game — although Phoenix will play a bit faster with Paul out. The Under also happens to be 6-3 in the games the Pelicans have played against teams that have winning percentages better than 70.0%. 

It also doesn’t hurt both of these defenses that these coaches are very familiar with one another. With Willie Green having been a Suns assistant last year, these systems aren’t all that different. The defenses should be able to bark out sets they have seen in the past.

Prediction: Under 229.5 (-115) 

Best bet

Booker showed the world how good of a passer he is on Thursday night when he dished out 12 assists in a win over the Thunder. Booker has had a lot of reps as an on-ball player in Phoenix, as the team let him run the offense rather often before Chris Paul — and Ricky Rubio the year before — got to town. That time helped Booker grow as a passer, but he has also learned from spending so much time around Paul. 

With the Point God sidelined, Booker looks like he is going to have the ball in his hands a heck of a lot. With that in mind, he’s a good bet to rack up assists on a nightly basis. Booker likes to share the basketball and he has teammates around him that can hit shots. The looks are also going to be top-notch against a Pelicans defense that isn’t anything to write home about. 

Pick: Devin Booker Over 7.5 assists (-114)

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