After splitting the first four games of this first-round Western Conference playoff series, the top-seeded Suns and eighth-seeded Pelicans meet for a crucial Game 5 Tuesday night in Phoenix. The Suns, after winning 64 games during the regular season, were supposed to roll through New Orleans on their way to the NBA Finals. Now, with a key Phoenix injury, this series is up for grabs.
Phoenix is favored by a touchdown for Game 5; which way are we going with our free NBA playoffs betting pick?
NBA Betting Odds
The NBA playoffs betting lines opened the Suns as 6.5-point favorites for this Game 5, with an over/under of right around 215. Early betting action then edged that total up to 215.5. The updated NBA playoffs futures market now lists Phoenix as a -300 favorite to win this series, with the Pelicans getting around +240.
Pelicans-Suns NBA Betting Preview
New Orleans evened this best-of-seven series at two games apiece with a 118-103 Game 4 victory at home Sunday. The Pelicans, playing as two-point underdogs, trailed 51-49 at the half, then used a 10-2 run out of the locker room to take the lead for good. New Orleans led 89-85 with eight minutes left, then put the game away with a 12-0 spurt, on its way toward victory. The Pelicans cashed in at +115 on the Game 4 money line and the game played over a total of 215.5. New Orleans shot 47 percent from the floor Sunday, allowed Phoenix to shoot 51 percent, out-rebounded the Suns 48-39, and won the turnover battle 13-9. Also, as Phoenix HC Williams pointed out, the Pelicans shot 27 more free throws (42-15) than the Suns and made 22 more (32-10). New Orleans has won the battle on the boards each game this series. Phoenix won the opener of this series 110-99 and covered at -10 but lost Game 2 at home 125-114. In the process, the Suns also lost G Devin Booker to a pulled hamstring. Phoenix then took Game 3 in New Orleans 114-111 before the Pelicans took Game 4. Booker remains out for the Suns while New Orleans is still playing without F Zion Williamson.
Phoenix finished 28 games ahead of the Pelicans in the regular-season standings and took the season series from New Orleans three games to one.
- Get more details: New Orleans at Phoenix 4/26/22 Betting Stats
NBA Betting Trends
The Suns played 32-9 SU but only 19-22 ATS at home this season. The Pelicans played 17-24 SU and 21-19 ATS on the road this season.
Totals Report
- This season, the Under went 48-32 in Pelicans games, which averaged 220 total points.
- This season, the Under went 41-40 in Suns games, which averaged 222 points.
- The overs are 5-3 in Pelicans-Suns games this season.
