The New Orleans Pelicans and the Golden State Warriors are sitting right next to each other in the standings, each looking to inch even closer to the safe haven in the West.

Catch this game live on Wednesday, March 29, at 10:00 AM, Manila time

Away: New Orleans Pelicans (38-37/14-24 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: CJ McCollum
  • SG: Trey Murphy III
  • SF: Brandon Ingram
  • PF: Herbert Jones
  • C: Jonas Valanciunas

Don’t look now but the Pelicans are just half a game away from barging into the top six in the Western Conference. New Orleans has really turned it on lately, having won five games in a row. The Pelicans blasted the Portland Trail Blazers on the road on Tuesday, 124-90. Before that, New Orleans smoked the Los Angeles Clippers in Hollywood over the weekend, 131-110. 

The Pels are averaging 114.4 points per game this season, but they’ve generated 121.0 points over their last five outings — sixth-highest in the league during that same stretch. Brandon Ingram has been instrumental during this current Pelicans surge, as he’s scored 29.8 points on 53.8 FG% during the win streak. In three meetings with the Warriors this season, the Pelicans have won twice. New Orleans has also covered the spread in all of their last four games after a victory.

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Home: Golden State Warriors (39-37/30-8 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Stephen Curry
  • SG: Klay Thompson
  • SF: Donte DiVincenzo
  • PF: Draymond Green (probable)
  • C: Kevon Looney

Golden State suffered a rare home loss last Monday, as they fell prey to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Chase Center, 99-96. Golden State was so sloppy in that contest, turning the ball over 16 times and shooting just 41.5 percent from the field. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson both shot below 40% from the floor. That loss can be interpreted as a good sign for the Warriors with regard to their fate this Wednesday. 

The Warriors have lost just eight times at home so far in the 2022-23 NBA regular season, so it’d be a tall order for New Orleans to beat Golden State in the Bay Area just two days after Stephen Curry and company lost there. That’s not to mention that the Pelicans are just 14-24 on the road this season while also covering the spread in only 15 of those contests in enemy territories. 

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Warriors (-8.5) cover the spread.

Over/Under: The total (234.5) hits the Over.