Pelicans vs. 76ers prediction and odds for Monday, January 2 (Philly gets revenge)
By Peter Dewey
The New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers face off for the second time in three games on Monday night, this time in Philly.
The Pels, who have been a great home team this season, were able to take down the Sixers in Tyrese Maxey’s return to the lineup, but they lost their last game on the road to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Philly comes off a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, and could be undervalued as a home favorite, where it is 9-5-1 against the spread this season.
The Sixers are finally back at full strength with James Harden and Maxey healthy, but New Orleans can’t say the same.
The team will once again be without star Brandon Ingram due to a toe injury, and Larry Nance Jr. (neck) is also out for this game.
The Sixers couldn’t hold Zion Williamson or C.J. McCollum in the last meeting between these two teams (they combined for 78 points), but do they bounce back in this matchup?
Pelicans vs. 76ers odds, spread and total
Pelicans vs. 76ers prediction and pick
I think Philly takes the second and final game between these two teams this season, and I don’t mind laying the juice on the moneyline either.
The Sixers are solid as home favorites, and that lines up well against a New Orleans team that is just 3-5 ATS as a road dog.
Still, I’d rather take this moneyline than expect the Clippers to win by five or more, especially since the Pelicans put up 127 points on them on Friday night.
I do doubt that both McCollum and Williamson go off again, especially since Philly ranks second in the NBA in defensive rating and plays at a slow pace offensively.
The Pels have been much worse on the road (7-9 straight up) than at home (16-4 straight up) this season, and I think we’re going to start to see Philly really round into form with its whole rotation healthy for the first time in months.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.