The Cleveland Cavaliers (8-31) welcome the New Orleans Pelicans (17-22) to Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavaliers are 7.5-point underdogs and look to snap their eight-game losing streak. The game’s Over/Under (O/U) opened at 222.5 points and it can be seen on Fox Sports – Ohio at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 5, 2019.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Odds
Both teams lost in their last contest. The Cavaliers (5.5-point underdogs) were defeated by the Utah Jazz, 117-91, while the Pelicans (2-point favorites) fell to the Brooklyn Nets, 126-121. Both games finished over their projected point totals. The Cleveland game finished 5 points over the projected point total of 203, while the New Orleans game went 17 points over the projected point total of 230.
New Orleans did a great job of getting to and converting from the charity stripe (19-27; 70.4 percent) while Cleveland had a better turnover percentage (12.7 vs. 10.7). Cleveland’s Alec Burks played well, contributing 17 points. Meanwhile, New Orleans was led by Anthony Davis, who had 34 points and 26 rebounds.
This series was highly contested last year, as the teams split their two games last season. In the last contest, the Cavaliers won 107-102. Cleveland’s free throw rate was their largest advantage over New Orleans. The Cavaliers had a rate of 0.122, while the Pelicans posted a mark of 0.056. This will be the first matchup of the year between these two teams.
Of the Pelicans’ 39 games, 20 have finished over the total. New Orleans holds records of 17-22 straight up (SU) and 16-23 against the spread (ATS).
Vegas has been spot on when setting the O/U total of Cavaliers games, with an even split between overs and unders. Further, Cleveland is 8-31 SU and 18-20 ATS.
New Orleans may have a tough time creating turnovers. Cleveland ranks ninth in the league at avoiding errors (turnover percentage of 13.1 percent), while New Orleans forces the sixth-fewest turnovers (12.5 percent).
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Pick
Free NBA Pick: SU Winner – Pelicans, ATS Winner – Pelicans, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- The Pelicans average 14.102564102564102 fast break points per game, which ranks 11 in the NBA. The Cavaliers rank 15 in fast break points allowed per game (13.58974358974359).
- New Orleans ranks third in assists per game (26.7) while Cleveland ranks last (19.9).
- The Pelicans rank 12th in blocks per game (5.4) while the Cavaliers rank last (2.5).
- New Orleans ranks first in second chance points per game (15.7) while Cleveland ranks 16th (13.3).
- New Orleans ranks 22 in three pointers attempted per game (28.46153846153846) while Cleveland ranks 26 (25.58974358974359).
- The Pelicans rank first in points in the paint per game (57.6) while the Cavaliers rank 26th (42.2).
- The Pelicans rank 16 in points off turnovers per game (16.102564102564102) while the Cavaliers rank 28 (13.153846153846153).
- New Orleans ranks 6 in rebounds per game (47.15384615384615) while Cleveland ranks 7 in rebounds allowed per game (43.64102564102564).
- Cleveland ranks second in steals allowed per game (7.0) while New Orleans ranks 23rd (8.6).
- New Orleans is 2-0 when they allow below 100 points, while Cleveland is 3-3.
- The Cavaliers are 6-14 when they reach 100 points, while the Pelicans are 17-20.
- New Orleans is 7-13 ATS on the road, while Cleveland is 7-12 ATS at home.
- The total has gone over in 11 of the Cavaliers’ 19 home games, while 11 of the Pelicans’ 20 road games have gone over.
Bettings Trends:
- The Cavaliers are 2-3 ATS over their last five games, while the Pelicans are 1-4.
- In their last five games, Cleveland has 3 overs, 1 under and 1 push, while New Orleans has 3 overs and 2 unders.
- The Cavaliers’ average margin of defeat in their last five games has been 17.2, up from 9.9 for the season.
- During their last five games, the Pelicans have scored an average of 116.2 points per game (0.1 below their season average) and allowed an average of 116.4 points per game (0.9 above their season average).
