Like several other First Round NBA Playoffs series, the Western Conference battle between the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans has been impacted by a key injury. After Devin Booker exited Game 2 with a hamstring injury, the Pelicans managed to score a stunning upset win on the road to level up the series at a game apiece. Can New Orleans actually make things difficult on the defending Western Conference champs and force a long series? Let’s take a look at the top NBA odds, picks and betting trends, then give a Suns vs Pelicans prediction for this NBA Playoffs Game 3 matchup.
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Suns vs Pelicans Game Info and Preview | NBA Playoffs
NBA Western Conference Playoffs First Round — Game 3 (Series tied 1-1)
(1) Phoenix Suns (64-18, 32-9 Away) vs. (8) New Orleans Pelicans (36-46, 19-22 Home)
Date: Friday, April 22, 2022
Time: 9:30 PM EST
Venue: Smoothie King Center — New Orleans, LA
Coverage: ESPN
Devin Booker was cooking with gas offensively for the Suns in Game 2 of this NBA betting series. The 25-year-old amassed 31 points across 25 minutes of action on Tuesday night before injuring his hamstring. It was all downhill from there for Phoenix. Booker would never return to the floor and the Suns coughed up a five-point halftime lead. Based on how strong Phoenix was throughout the regular season, many had a Suns vs Pelicans prediction of this series being a clean sweep. With Booker set to miss Game 3 and probably beyond, the Suns will need to have other players step up alongside Chris Paul to avoid what would be a stunning playoff exit.
After finishing the regular season ten games under .500, the fact that the Pelicans even qualified for the NBA Playoffs was a bit surprising. Now, they have the chance to take a series lead over the team with the best record in the Association. Brandon Ingram put the league on notice in Game 2 with a massive 37-point, 11-rebound, nine-assists performance. C.J. McCollum also fell just a few stats shy of his own triple-double line. After snaring a whopping 25 rebounds in Game 1, Jonas Valanciunas again won the battle inside over Phoenix’s Deandre Ayton.
Suns vs Pelicans NBA Betting Picks and Odds
All NBA betting odds for Suns vs Pelicans can be found at BetOnline Sportsbook.
Moneyline: PHX: (-135) | NOP: (+115)
Point Spread: PHX: -2 (-115) | NOP: +2 (-105)
Total: 216 — Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)
Public (Spread) Betting Percentages (via Action Network): PHX: (71%) | NOP: (29%)
Suns vs Pelicans NBA Betting Trends
- Suns are 0-4 ATS in their last four road games as an NBA betting favorite.
- The total has gone UNDER in each of the Suns’ last four games following an ATS loss.
- The UNDER is 6-0 in the Suns’ last six games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- The UNDER is 8-1 in the Pelicans’ last nine games following a straight up win.
- The total has gone UNDER in seven of the Pelicans’ last eight games when playing on two days’ rest.
- Suns are 5-1 ATS in their last six head-to-head matchups against the Pelicans in New Orleans.
- Each of the last six Suns vs Pelicans head-to-head matchups in New Orleans has gone OVER the total.
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Suns vs Pelicans Prediction | NBA Betting Picks
How will the Suns respond to playing without Devin Booker? That is the great unknown and really a key component to making tonight’s Suns vs Pelicans prediction. Bettors can expect veteran point guard Chris Paul to deliver another strong showing, but other players will need to step up. Mikal Bridges was notably productive in Game 2, but no other Phoenix player scored more than 11 points.
For the Suns to take back home-court advantage tonight and quiet the rumblings that they are, in fact, in trouble of losing this NBA betting series, center Deandre Ayton must step up. He only scored 10 points on Tuesday and has failed to record double-digit rebounds in each of the first two games in this series. A great way to offset the Pelicans’ dynamic duo of C.J. McCollum and Brandon Ingram would be for Ayton to dictate things on the interior. Whether he delivers or not is another story.
The best way to ultimately approach tonight’s game from a betting standpoint is to play the total under. Although Tuesday’s game flew over its betting total, there was also some spectacular shot-making going on at both ends of the floor. Without Booker, one could argue that the Suns will lean even more heavily on a defense that ranked third in efficiency this season. Combined with the absence of a primary scoring threat and the Pelicans’ slow tempo and a lower-scoring affair is expected in Game 3.
Our NBA betting Suns vs Pelicans prediction tonight will be the UNDER 216 total points at BetOnline.
For what it’s worth, the ESPN Matchup Predictor gives the Suns a 51.5% chance to win.
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