chris-paul-cj-mccollum-usatsi-cbs.jpg
USATSI

The 2022 NBA Playoffs continue on Thursday and the Phoenix Suns will take on the New Orleans Pelicans in Game 6 of their first-round matchup in the Western Conference. The Suns hold a 3-2 advantage and the No. 1 seed would love to close out the series and go home to prepare for either the Mavericks or Jazz. However, the Pelicans have been feisty throughout the series, covering the spread and winning in games 2 and 4.

The Suns will  be without Devin Booker (hamstring) again as they head to New Orleans for a 7:30 p.m. ET tipoff at the Smoothie King Center. Phoenix is favored by two points in the latest Suns vs. Pelicans odds from Caesars Sportsbook while the over-under is listed at 214 points. Before making any Pelicans vs. Suns picks, be sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model entered the second full week of the 2022 NBA playoffs on a stunning 86-58 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning over $2,100. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

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

  • Suns vs. Pelicans spread: Phoenix -2
  • Suns vs. Pelicans over-under: 215 points 
  • Suns vs. Pelicans money line: Phoenix -135, New Orleans +115
  • PHO: The Suns are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 meetings with the Pelicans 
  • NO: The Pelicans are 7-1 ATS in their last eight contests following an ATS loss

Why the Suns can cover

Phoenix has been without Booker for the last three games of the series now but Deandre Ayton, Chris Paul and Mikal Bridges have all managed to carry a heavier load in his absence. Ayton is averaging 20.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game and shooting 67.5 percent from the floor while Paul is averaging 20.2 points and 12.0 assists for the series.

Bridges is averaging 17.2 points and 1.8 blocks per game and the runner-up in NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting has helped hold CJ McCollum to 28.5 percent shooting from the floor. Bridges is a big reason why the Suns are winning the turnover battle 67-47 for the series and those extra possessions could prove critical in Game 6 with the Pelicans lacking a true primary ball-handler in their rotation.

Why the Pelicans can cover

Brandon Ingram averaged 22.7 points during the regular season but has elevated his game in the NBA playoffs 2022. The 24-year-old small forward leads New Orleans with an average of 28.2 points and has scored at least 30 in three of the first five contests of the series. Ingram finished with a team-high 22 points, five assists and five rebounds in Tuesday's setback.

Jonas Valanciunas finished in the top 10 in rebounding in 2021-22, ranking eighth with an average of 11.4. The 29-year-old Lithuanian center has been even better in this series, grabbing a league-high 15.6 boards per game. Valanciunas was third in the NBA during the regular season with 50 double-doubles and registered his fourth of the playoffs in Game 5 on Tuesday as he recorded 17 points and 14 rebounds.

How to make Suns vs. Pelicans picks

SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, with the teams projected to combine for 227 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits more than 50 percent of the time. You can only see the model's Suns vs. Pelicans pick at SportsLine.

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