Xam’s Daily Gem:
Pelicans Money Line -144 FanDuel
Both the Pelicans and Magic are coming into this game playing solid basketball. The Pelicans have won 3 straight games and the Magic have won 4 straight games. Both teams are 8-2 in their last 10 games. Both teams play solid defense, as the Pelicans are giving up 110 points per game on the year and the Magic are giving up 108 points per game. The difference between these teams are the offenses. The Pelicans are scoring 116 points per game this year, while the Magic are scoring just 110 per game. They’ve been even worse despite their recent success. They’re averaging under 107 points per game in their last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Pelicans are scoring 115 points per game in their last 10. The formula for the Pelicans just seems more sustainable. The Pelicans also have a small rest advantage in this game, as they’ve only played once since the 16th. The Pelicans have a lot more offensive talent coming into this game. Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, and Brandon Ingram have been playing well, while Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones have been solid role players. If the Pelicans can contain Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, they should be able to score enough despite playing against a stingy defense. They’ve proven they can win on the road, have the better offensive playmakers, and have the rest advantage in this game.