Pelicans vs Hawks Prediction, picks and odds for tonight’s NBA game

The New Orleans Pelicans will try to break an eight-game losing streak tonight when they visit the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena.

Atlanta is on a three-game winning streak on its own and should cover a wide spread tonight, as I’ll explain in my Pelicans vs. Hawks Predictions.

Read on below to see why I like the Hawks in my NBA free picks for Monday, December 2.

Pelicans vs. Hawks prediction

My best choice
Hawks -10 (-110 at bet365)

My analysis
The New Orleans Pelicans will have a difficult time in Atlanta on Monday. Not only has New Orleans lost eight straight, but it is now in its second game of a losing streak after losing 118-85 to the New York Knicks last night. The Pelicans now face an Atlanta Hawks team that has won three straight, including twice against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

To be fair to New Orleans, few rosters could withstand the injury issues it faces. Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray have all missed significant time this year, and Brandon Ingram has sat out the last four games with right calf soreness. Jose Alvarado, Jordan Hawkins and Herbert Jones are all expected to miss tonight’s game as well, so while Murray and McCollum will most likely be in the lineup, the Pelicans are still shorthanded.

While Atlanta may only be 10-11, they are looking like a much better team lately. Trey Young and Jalen Johnson are each averaging over 20 ppg and appear to have the kind of chemistry that Young had yet to find with a co-star in his NBA career. The Hawks have also benefited from the return of Bogdan Bogdanovic (11.6 ppg), who missed 13 games with a hamstring injury.

These scoring options will cause problems for a Pelicans team that has played much worse on defense than their raw numbers suggest. New Orleans is allowing 115.7 ppg to opponents, a number that is already below average and ranks 22nd in the NBA. However, that goal came despite the Pelicans playing at one of the slowest tempos in the league.

On a possession basis, New Orleans is among the worst defensive teams in the league. They allow opponents to shoot 48.4% from the field, as well as 37.8% from three-point range. That’s going to be a serious problem against a Hawks team that allows almost every key player to shoot from behind the arc. Not all of them are great from three, with only De’Andre Hunter shooting over 40% from deep, but they should get a lot of open looks against the Pelicans.

There’s just too much talent on the Hawks side for an ailing, tired Pelicans team to keep up with them on the road tonight. I’ll take Atlanta to stud.

Pelicans vs Hawks parlay in the same game

Hawks -9.5

Below 230.5

Jalen Johnson Over 19.5 points

I want the Hawks to win by a wide margin tonight, which gives me the opportunity to make a parlay in the same game with some uncorrelated picks for added value. I’m taking Atlanta back on the spread, and combining that with the Under. The Pelicans typically play a slow, low-scoring brand of basketball, and Atlanta has also been well below tonight’s total in its last two games.

Trae Young is not 100% tonight as he plays with Achilles tendonitis. Not only is that another reason to take the Under, but it also makes me interested in Jalen Johnson’s scoring propaganda. Johnson has scored 20-plus points in each of his last five games and should see a boost in his offensive production with Young not quite at his best tonight.

Learn how to parlay on the same game with these helpful tips and strategies.

Pelicans vs. Hawks Odds

Pelicans vs Hawks live odds

Pelicans vs Hawks opening odds

• Spread: New Orleans +9.5 | Atlanta -9.5
• Moneyline: New Orleans +368 | Atlanta -469
• Top/Bottom: Over 228 | Under 228

Odds courtesy of bet365.

Pelicans vs. Hawk Spread and Over/Under Analysis

• The Hawks are 8-13 against the spread this year, while the Pelicans have been even worse for bettors, going 7-14 ATS.
• Atlanta recorded the only other meeting between these teams this year, a 126-111 victory in New Orleans.
• The Over has a 14-7 edge in Atlanta games this season, while the Under have a 12-8-1 edge in New Orleans games.
• The Pelicans play for an average total of 218.6 ppg. The Hawks are averaging 235.5 ppg.

Pelicans vs. Hawks Trend

The Pelicans have lost each of their last three games by more than 11 points. Find more NBA betting odds for Pelicans vs. Hawks.

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