by Ben Perks
It’s crunch time for the Los Angeles Clippers and the New Orleans Pelicans in the last round of the NBA Play-In Tournament.
The winner of this meeting will secure the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and a first-round matchup with the Phoenix Suns, while the loser will wave goodbye to a place in the playoffs.
Despite losing their 7-8 matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the previous round, the Clippers come in as slight favorites to beat the Pelicans.
View the latest betting lines for this all-or-nothing game on Friday, April 15.
Pelicans vs. Clippers – This Season’s Series
- November 19, 2021: Jonas Valencuinas scored 26 points to help the Pels win 94-81.
- November 29, 2021: Valencuinas finished with 39 points and 15 rebounds to secure a 19-point win for New Orleans (104-123).
- January 13, 2022: Brandon Ingram led the scoring (29) to clinch the series for the Pels (113-89).
- April 3, 2022: Marcus Morris Sr.’s 22 points stopped the Pelicans from securing a clean sweep (119-100).
Can the Pelicans Continue To Upset the Odds?
A few months ago, NBA betting sites had the Pelicans as heavy underdogs to make the playoffs, but they are now just one game away.
Before the All-Star break, ESPN’s BPI projection gave New Orleans only a 10% chance to reach the playoffs. However, the Pelicans went from just 23-36 to 13-10 after the break to clinch a place in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Averaging 25.2 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game on 49.5% shooting in his first 25 games, CJ McCollum was the driving force behind the dramatic turnaround for New Orleans.
When lining up against the Spurs on Wednesday, McCollum scored a whopping 27 points in the first half. Although the Clippers will prove a sterner test for the star and his supporting cast, he has what it takes to keep the Pelicans’ comeback story alive.
A Defensive Powerhouse
Despite playing most of the 2021-22 season without Paul George and not having Kawhi Leonard available at all, the LA Clippers entered the Play-In Tournament as the No. 8 seed because of their incredible defensive record.
But will it be able to contain McCollum and Brandon Ingram on Friday? With the return of Norman Powell to take some pressure off Paul George, the Clips will be confident that they can.
George is one of the best perimeter defenders in the nation, and with Powell back in the lineup, he could be even more effective against New Orleans.
Since his return to the lineup, George has averaged 22.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 2.8 steals on 42.5 percent shooting from the field and 52.5 percent shooting outside the arc.
Also, in the last meeting between the two franchises, McCollum only made seven of his 18 shots and reached the free-throw line a paltry four times.
Therefore, if the Clips put on a similar defensive display, they should be able to end the Pelicans’ run.
View the latest betting lines for upcoming NBA games.
Ben is a sports journalist & part-time trader with a passion for finding +EV bets. Ben lives in Madrid, Spain where he enjoys the live poker scene, and sunshine where he covers UFC, MLB, NHL, NBA, as well as tennis betting.
