San Antonio (19-23) at New Orleans (17-27)
When: Wednesday, January 22nd, 2020
Where: Smoothie King Center,
New Orleans, LA
Time: 9:35 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: New Orleans -4/236
The New Orleans Pelicans weren’t supposed to contend for a playoff spot this season and got off to an awful start by not having their No. 1 draft pick Zion Williamson on the court. Well, not only are the Pelicans starting to play some really good basketball, they welcome their potential superstar to the court on Wednesday night when they host the San Antonio Spurs. ESPN has adjusted their schedule to accommodate the former one-and-done Duke star’s debut and the Smoothie King Center should be rocking come 8:35 local time. Williamson has been sidelined since the preseason with a knee injury and he will join a team that has won 10 of its last 14 games after a 126-116 victory at Memphis on Monday. New Orleans has also covered the spread in eight of its last nine contests and will host a Spurs team that began a two-game road trip with a 120-118 win at Phoenix on Monday. San Antonio survived a late charge by the Suns to improve to 12-9 since a 7-14 start. The Spurs are a half-game behind eighth-place Memphis in the Western Conference, while New Orleans has moved up to 12th place – three games behind San Antonio. This is the first of four meetings between the teams this season after the Spurs took three of four in 2018-19.
Bryn Forbes scored all 24 of his points on a career-high eight 3-pointers in Monday’s win including seven in the first half. He and Derrick White combined to make 12-of-16 3-pointers, with White contributing a season-high 25 points. Veterans LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan combined for 37 points. DeRozan is averaging 8.6 assists over his last three games, but has shot under 50 percent from the floor in back-to-back contests after a string of 13 in a row shooting over 50 percent. The Spurs return home on Friday to host the Phoenix Suns.
Williamson will join another former Duke star in forward Brandon Ingram, who’s been carrying the scoring load this season. Ingram is averaging a team-high 25.6 points per game, while fellow guard Jrue Holiday chips in 20.1. Ingram is averaging 31.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and six assists over his last three games, while Holiday returned from a seven-game injury abscence to score a season-high-tying 36 points in the win over Memphis. The Pelicans will stay home for their next two games against Denver and Boston. We will see quickly how Williamson fares against the elite teams of the league.
I have to take New Orleans in this one. This game will have a playoff-type atmosphere and the Pelicans are simply playing better than the Spurs right now. The team can only get better from here with Williamson back.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Wednesday. He is 47-40-3 (54%) on the season!
Pick: Pelicans -3.5
Spurs are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 road games.
Spurs are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Spurs are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 games as a road favorite.
Spurs are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
Spurs are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
Spurs are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Spurs are 4-10-1 ATS in their last 15 games as a favorite.
Spurs are 7-22 ATS in their last 29 games following a straight up win.
Spurs are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
Spurs are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 Wednesday games.
Pelicans are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
Pelicans are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
Pelicans are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Pelicans are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 home games.
Pelicans are 11-1-1 ATS in their last 13 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pelicans are 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS win.
Pelicans are 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pelicans are 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog.
Pelicans are 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up win.
Pelicans are 13-2-1 ATS in their last 16 games overall.
Pelicans are 13-2-1 ATS in their last 16 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pelicans are 12-3-2 ATS in their last 17 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pelicans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Wednesday games.
Pelicans are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games as a home underdog.
Pelicans are 7-16 ATS in their last 23 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Pelicans are 4-13 ATS in their last 17 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Over is 4-0 in Spurs last 4 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Over is 5-0 in Spurs last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
Over is 6-1 in Spurs last 7 games following a ATS win.
Over is 4-1 in Spurs last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
Over is 18-6 in Spurs last 24 games as a favorite.
Over is 11-4 in Spurs last 15 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 9-4-1 in Spurs last 14 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Over is 11-5 in Spurs last 16 overall.
Over is 11-5 in Spurs last 16 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 8-0 in Pelicans last 8 games following a straight up win.
Over is 6-0 in Pelicans last 6 home games.
Over is 11-1 in Pelicans last 12 overall.
Over is 11-1 in Pelicans last 12 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 10-1 in Pelicans last 11 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 9-1 in Pelicans last 10 games following a ATS win.
Over is 9-1 in Pelicans last 10 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 8-1 in Pelicans last 9 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 7-1 in Pelicans last 8 games as an underdog.
Over is 5-1 in Pelicans last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 6-2 in Pelicans last 8 Wednesday games.
Over is 73-31 in Pelicans last 104 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Spurs are 6-21 ATS in the last 27 meetings in New Orleans.
Spurs are 6-14 ATS in the last 20 meetings.
