Strong defenses collide in New Orleans. Our Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New Orleans Pelicans NBA picks are based on the best NBA odds.
The Cleveland Cavaliers enter Friday on a heater, having won four straight games by an average margin of 21.3 points. The Cavs defeated the New Orleans Pelicans by 10 in Cleveland on Jan. 16, but can they produce a similar outcome on the road?
The Pels are on a winning streak of their own, having come away victorious in three straight at home. Star forward Zion Williamson remains out indefinitely, but players who dealt with recent injuries such as Brandon Ingram and center Jonas Valanciunas are back in action. Both teams will be near full strength Friday.
Here is our best Cavaliers vs. Pelicans NBA pick (odds via BetMGM; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
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Cavaliers vs. Pelicans pick
Cleveland ranks 25th in points scored per game this season at just 111.8 and scores even fewer points on the road. The Cavs' 109.5 points away from Cleveland are third-fewest in the Association.
While New Orleans' offense is one of the highest-scoring in the NBA, defense is going to keep this point total Under 222.5. Cleveland allows the fewest points per game overall at 106.2 and the fewest points per game on the road at 107.2. Over the last three games, Cleveland is the only team to hold opponents under 100 points per game, allowing just 93.0 per game in that span.
New Orleans allows the eighth-fewest points per game at home at 109.9, and the team is far better defensively there than on the road (117.4 allowed). Cleveland allows just 45.6 points per game in the paint (third fewest) , which will make it tough on New Orleans' offense, which averages the fifth most points in the pain (55.3).
Cavaliers vs. Pelicans best odds
| DraftKings | FanDuel | BetMGM | Caesars | PointsBet |
| Under 223 | Under 223 | Under 222.5 | Under 223 | Under 223.5 |
| -110 | -110 | -105 | -110 | -110 |
The odds are standard across most of our featured books, but there's a little variation in the totals. We can sell half a point and get the odds at 222.5 on BetMGM for longer -105 odds, or we can play it safe and take the 223.5 total at PointsBet. Taking this total at 223 doesn't make sense when you have two superior options at BetMGM or PointsBet. You can avoid the push at 223.5 and get a more favorable line for the same juice at PointsBet or get the best odds at BetMGM for just a half point less. I'd bet this one down to 220.5, so I'm happy to wager on BetMGM with the slightly longer odds.
Cavaliers vs. Pelicans odds
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Cavaliers vs. Pelicans odds analysis
The spread opened at New Orleans +2.5, but that line has mov ed by half a point in favor of the Cavaliers. Cleveland is 11-15-2 on the road and just 8-8-2 as the road favorite. New Orleans is 6-3 as the home dog and 17-12 at home. Bettors favor the Cavs to cover, with 57% of bets placed on that outcome.
The point total has had similarly small movement, opening at 222.5 and moving up half a point or a point depending on the book. Cleveland has hit the Under in three straight and four of the last six, and the team is 7-11 as the road favorite. Conversely, the Pels have hit the Over in four of the last six, and the team is 6-3 as the home dog.
Cavaliers vs. Pelicans game info
- Date: Friday, Feb. 10, 10 p.m. ET.
- TV: ESPN
- Location: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Cavaliers-Pelicans pick made 02/10/2023 at 1:10 p.m. ET.
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