Pelicans vs. Clippers picks, prediction for Wednesday, Feb. 7

Pelicans vs. Clippers Picks, Odds

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 10 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Clippers -6.5 (DraftKings)

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Pelicans Need 3-point Improvement

While the Pelicans have won three straight games, it is important to contextualize whom they have beaten and lost to this season. Their three-game winning streak came against the lowly Raptors, Spurs and Rockets, but they also recently lost three straight games to the Thunder, Bucks and Celtics — all in blowout fashion.

Over the past month, the Pelicans have been awful against strong opponents as they also lost by double digits to the Nuggets and Suns in January. There has been a clear pattern of dominant victories over weak competition and blowout losses to the elite teams over the past four weeks. The Clippers certainly qualify as an elite opponent, so what will the Pelicans have to do to change their luck this time around?

Let’s start with not shooting 39.9% (first percentile) in Effective Field Goal percentage (eFG%) like they did in their previous matchup with the Clippers, which was the Pelicans' worst shooting performance of the season. This game will inevitably be closer with positive shooting regression.

They also need to find a way to generate more 3s as the Clippers attempted way more 3s than them in that game. The Pelicans' low 3-point attempt rate has hampered them within the past two weeks as they recently lost a game to the Celtics almost entirely because the Celtics blew them out of the game by making seven more 3-pointers than them. They must find a way to generate more 3s while simultaneously limiting the Clippers' quality attempts from beyond the arc.

Pelicans Need 3-point Improvement

While the Pelicans have won three straight games, it is important to contextualize whom they have beaten and lost to this season. Their three-game winning streak came against the lowly Raptors, Spurs and Rockets, but they also recently lost three straight games to the Thunder, Bucks and Celtics — all in blowout fashion.

Over the past month, the Pelicans have been awful against strong opponents as they also lost by double digits to the Nuggets and Suns in January. There has been a clear pattern of dominant victories over weak competition and blowout losses to the elite teams over the past four weeks. The Clippers certainly qualify as an elite opponent, so what will the Pelicans have to do to change their luck this time around?

Let’s start with not shooting 39.9% (first percentile) in Effective Field Goal percentage (eFG%) like they did in their previous matchup with the Clippers, which was the Pelicans' worst shooting performance of the season. This game will inevitably be closer with positive shooting regression.

They also need to find a way to generate more 3s as the Clippers attempted way more 3s than them in that game. The Pelicans' low 3-point attempt rate has hampered them within the past two weeks as they recently lost a game to the Celtics almost entirely because the Celtics blew them out of the game by making seven more 3-pointers than them. They must find a way to generate more 3s while simultaneously limiting the Clippers' quality attempts from beyond the arc.

Pelicans vs. Clippers Picks, Odds

The Clippers are definitely underpriced here at -6.5 at home, and this line should be closer to -8 in this spot.

The Pelicans just closed at +8 in Boston against the Celtics, and I believe the Clippers are about equal with the Celtics in power rating right now, so I will back the Clippers at -6.5 here.

Pick: Clippers -6.5