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The New Orleans Pelicans welcome the Phoenix Suns to town for a nationally televised clash on Wednesday evening. New Orleans will aim to improve on a 3-9 record against fellow Western Conference teams this season. That includes an early-season loss to the Suns in late December. Phoenix, meanwhile, is 9-6 against Western Conference opponents and an impressive 7-4 away from home this season.

Tip-off is at 9:30 p.m. ET in New Orleans. William Hill Sportsbook lists the Suns as three-point road favorites, while the over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 222.5 in the latest Suns vs. Pelicans odds. Before you make any Pelicans vs. Suns picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and it returned over $5,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks last season. The model is up nearly $8,100 over the past two-plus seasons. Dating back to last season, it is also on a stunning 73-44 roll on top-rated picks against the spread. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Suns vs. Pelicans. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting trends for Pelicans vs. Suns:

  • Suns vs. Pelicans spread: Suns -3
  • Suns vs. Pelicans over-under: 222.5 points
  • Suns vs. Pelicans money line: Suns -160, Pelicans +140
  • PHX: The Suns are 5-5 against the spread in the last 10 games
  • NO: The Pelicans are 4-6 against the spread in the last 10 games

Why the Suns can cover

Phoenix is a solid two-way team, especially when it comes to its defense. The Suns are a top-five team in defensive rating, giving up only 107.2 points per 100 possessions to opponents this season. Phoenix is elite on the defensive glass, pulling down 75.9 percent of available rebounds, and the Suns are also a top-10 team in shooting efficiency allowed. The Pelicans also should make life easier on the Suns, as New Orleans is committing a turnover on more than 15 percent of its offensive possessions this season. 

On the other end, Phoenix ranks in the top five with a 63.6 percent assist rate and a 1.90 assist-to-turnover ratio for the season. The Suns are also above-average in both effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage, with the Pelicans landing near the bottom of the NBA in defensive rating.

Why the Pelicans can cover

New Orleans has intriguing talent and the Pelicans have a few strengths to rely on against Phoenix. The Pelicans are a tremendous rebounding team on both ends, grabbing 29.7 percent of available rebounds offensively and 75.6 percent defensively, ranking in the top five of the NBA in both metrics. New Orleans is also elite near the rim, with a top-five free throw rate offensively and a top-five mark in points in the paint allowed at only 43.2 per game. 

Phoenix struggles mightily on the offensive glass, ranking near the bottom of the league, and the Pelicans are a top-10 group in limiting second-chance points for their opponents. Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram should provide scoring punch for New Orleans, with both averaging more than 23 points per game this season.

How to make Suns vs. Pelicans picks

SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total, with with teams projected to combine for 220 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50 percent of simulations. You can get that pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Pelicans vs. Suns? And which side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Suns vs. Pelicans spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks.