Suns vs Pelicans Odds, Spread and Picks for Game 2
By Chris Amberley in NBA Basketball
Published:
- The Suns vs Pelicans Game 2 odds favor Phoenix by 9.5 points on Tuesday, April 19 at 10pm ET
- Phoenix leads the series 1-0 after a 110-99 victory in Game 1
- Read below for the Suns vs Pelicans odds, analysis, and betting prediction
It was only one game, but the Phoenix Suns certainty have the makings of a team that is going to be extremely difficult to knock off in the West.
The Suns handled the Pelicans in the opener of their First Round Series on Sunday, and if not for a five-minute lapse at the end of the third quarter, Phoenix might have posted a 30-point victory.
When all was said and done they walked away with a 110-99 win, and oddsmakers are projecting another convincing victory on Tuesday in Game 2.
Pelicans vs Suns Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Pelicans | +400 | +9.5 (-110) | O 221.5 (-110) |
| Phoenix Suns | -550 | -9.5 (-110) | U 221.5 (-110) |
Odds as of April 18th from FanDuel Sportsbook.
The Suns opened up as a 9.5-point favorite in a game that features a total of 221.5. Tip-off is scheduled for 10pm ET at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ, with TNT providing the broadcast coverage.
Suns vs Pelicans Betting Analysis
Chris Paul was the catalyst for Phoenix in Game 1 scoring 30 points, 19 of which came in the final quarter. The aforementioned lapse by the Suns in the third quarter trimmed their lead from 23 to 8 points, but Paul helped them reestablish a double-digit lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Chris Paul is the oldest player in postseason history with 30 Pts & 10 Ast in a game.
That distinction was previously held by Steve Nash, also for the Suns, in Game 1 of the 2010 West Conf Semis. pic.twitter.com/Ru6V4GtbxN
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 18, 2022
Devin Booker chipped in 25 points for the Suns, while Deandre Ayton was a force down low. Ayton scored 21 points, grabbed nine rebounds and racked up four blocks. His presence was instrumental in Phoenix dominating points in the paint, as they outscored New Orleans 50-38 in that category.
The Pelicans on the other hand, got 25 points from CJ McCollum, while Jonas Valanciunas added 18 points and 25 boards. Brandon Ingram also splashed 18 points, but New Orleans was limited to 37.9% from the field thanks to the suffocating Suns defense. Mikal Bridges was especially dominant holding enemy shooters to 12.5% from the field as the main defender.
Last night, the Pelicans finished 2-of-16 with Mikal Bridges as the primary defender. 🔒
(Per @ESPNStatsInfo) pic.twitter.com/eJE3l9D3Bq
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 18, 2022
Phoenix ranked top-three this season in defensive rating and has held the Pelicans below 41% from the field in three of five meetings this season.
At the other end of the court, the Suns shot a blistering 53.8% taking full advantage of an underwhelming New Orleans defense. The Pelicans ranked 18th in defensive rating this season, the fourth worst among the 16 playoff teams.
On the injury front, Zion Williamson is unlikely to play in this series for the Pelicans, while Phoenix has no significant injuries to report.
Suns vs Pelicans Pick
The season series between these two teams was incredibly lopsided, especially in games that Paul played. Phoenix was 3-1 during the regular season versus New Orleans, winning all three times by at least 11 points. The Suns’ lone loss was in a game that Paul missed, and dating back to last season Phoenix has outscored the Pelicans by 54 points in four games where Paul has been active.
One step closer. pic.twitter.com/L1AFAgghQr
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 18, 2022
There are plenty of reasons to expect another Suns double-digit victory in Game 2, but there may be more value on betting the under. 221.5 points is a total these two teams have failed to exceed in three of their past five meetings, while under tickets have been cashing at an outrageous rate lately in Phoenix contests.
The under is 8-1 in the Suns’ last nine games overall, and Game 1 fell short of the total by 15 points. Phoenix’s defense has been rock solid all season, but if last year is any indication, they seem to ratchet up the intensity even further at that end of the floor in the playoffs.
IT'S A BLOCK PARTY STARRING DA! 🖐🏾 pic.twitter.com/0GFN8vBW9t
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 18, 2022
Dating back to last season, the Suns have yielded 109 points or less in 18 of their past 23 playoff games, while just nine of those 23 contests went over the total.
Another reason to like the under is the fact that New Orleans is going to try and do whatever it can to slow down the game. They know they can’t win a shootout with Phoenix, so we should expect them to play even slower than in the regular season when they ranked 21st in pace.
Pick: Under 221.5 (-110)
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Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
