The New Orleans Pelicans will travel to the Verizon Center to take on the Washington Wizards. The game gets underway at 7:00 pm ET on Tuesday, Feb. 23 and can be seen on NBA, FSN and WA2.
The Wizards are expecting a different result after their 99-92 loss to the Bucks in their last game. Bradley Beal was the team’s leading scorer with 19 points. The Pelicans, meanwhile, are feeling some disappointment after their deflating 121-95 loss against the Thunder in their last outing. Jrue Holiday led the team in scoring with 23 points.
Beal and John Wall have played well over the last five games for the Wizards. During that stretch, Beal has averaged 21.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 2.2 three-pointers, while Wall has recorded 25.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 11.4 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 2.8 three-pointers a game. Holiday has also been on a tear in the same span, averaging 20.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 2.6 steals, and 1.2 three-pointers while leading the Pelicans.
Based on each team’s statistical profile, the turnover story could loom large in this showdown. New Orleans commits the third-fewest errors in the NBA (turnover percentage of 12.7%), while Washington’s ball-hawking defense causes the third-most (opponents’ turnover percentage of 16.0%).
This will be the second matchup of the season between these two teams. The Pelicans won the first game 107-105. John Wall had a double-double in the loss with 26 points and 12 assists.
The Wizards enter the game with records of 25-28 Straight Up (SU) and 28-24-1 Against The Spread (ATS). In their last 10 games, they are 3-7 ATS. The Wizards are one of the best in the NBA in terms of field-goal percentage, shooting a superb .362 from beyond the arc.
Across the court, the Pelicans have 22-33 SU and 23-32 ATS records. New Orleans has records of 22-33 SU and 23-32 ATS against the East.
With the Pelicans’ last win against Washington, New Orleans is still behind in the head-to-head record over the past 10 meetings, 3-7 SU. The Wizards also lead the matchup ATS with a record of 7-3.
Predictions: SU Winner – Was
Notes
“Washington is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games “.
“The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Washington’s last 8 games at home”.
“Washington is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games when playing New Orleans”.
“Washington is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing New Orleans”.
“The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Washington’s last 11 games when playing New Orleans”.
“Washington is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against New Orleans”.
“Washington is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games when playing at home against New Orleans”.
“The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington’s last 5 games when playing at home against New Orleans”.
“New Orleans is 4-10 SU in its last 14 games when playing on the road against Washington”.
Washington puts up an average of 102.4 points per game (ranked 13th). New Orleans ranks 25th in points allowed per game with 105.2.
On average, Washington scores 103.3 points per home game (ranked 16th). New Orleans ranks 21st in points allowed per road game with 105.1.
In its last game, New Orleans lost by a 26-point margin. Washington is 2-6 in games decided by a margin of 18 points or more. New Orleans has a 1-5 record in blowouts.
When giving up fewer than 100 points, New Orleans has a 9-8 record. When Washington puts up fewer than 100, they are an underachieving 3-16.
When allowing 100 or more points in a game, the Pelicans are just 11-25 this season. Washington is a winning 20-12 when registering triple digits.
The Wizards have a defensive rating of 105.8 (ranked 21st), while the Pelicans rank 15th for their offensive rating of 103.7.
Washington has an average field goal percentage of 45.7%. New Orleans is a losing 10-20 when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
Washington attempts an average of 24.0 three pointers per game, and New Orleans attempts 24.0 per game. In games where the teams have 25 or more three point attempts, the Wizards are even at 12-12 while the Pelicans have a 10-15 record.
The Washington Wizards rank 10th with an assist to turnover ratio of 1.72. The New Orleans Pelicans have a higher A/TO (1.74), ranking sixth.
Washington ranks 30th in rebounds per game with 39.8, while New Orleans ranks 23rd with 42.4 per game.
Washington is ranked 28th in defensive rebounds, while New Orleans ranks 23rd in offensive rebounds.
Washington is one of the top teams in forced turnovers, with opponents averaging a TOV% of 16.0% (ranked third). New Orleans has a subpar record of 3-8 SU this season when its TOV% reaches 16.0% or greater.
