Phoenix at New Orleans
Time: 8 PM ET, Apr 9, 2014
Spread: PHO -6.5
Total: 208
Betting odds courtesy of Bovada
Phoenix holds a one game lead over Memphis for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The New Orleans Pelicans will look to play spoiler, but the Pelicans have lost five straight. NBA oddsmakers set the line 6.5 points in favor of the visiting Suns.
Anthony Davis of the Pelicans has made huge strides in his second NBA season. The Kentucky product is averaging 20.8 points and 10 rebounds per game, while making a huge impact on the defensive end (1.33 steals per game, 2.82 blocks). The Hornets have been unfortunate with injuries this season, as Ryan Anderson and Jrue Holiday have both missed the majority of the season.
Anderson should complement Davis well, and the Hornets will not have a draft pick to look forward to in the 2014 NBA draft, as it was used to acquire Holiday. The pick will end up being around the 10th selection, and Holiday is a better player than what could likely be acquired with that pick.
The Hornets just have to grow together as a unit as Davis continues to become a bigger and more dominant player down low. His PER of 26.6 is outstanding already, and his length makes him an impossible cover for most bigs in the league.
Phoenix defeated OKC Thunder 122-115 on Sunday (Apr 6) night, behind 26 points from point guard Goran Dragic. The Suns won despite Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant combining for 71 points; largely in part because no other Thunder players did much of anything.
Gerald Green came off the bench to score 24 points on 7-of-11 shooting, and P.J. Tucker had an efficient night, scoring 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting. The Suns hit 11-of-23 from three-point range and shot 58.4 percent from the floor. That has been the M.O. for the Suns for this season: spread the floor and hit the three point shot. It may not be a model can sustain playoff success, but the Suns weren’t even expected to be a playoff team, so anything is possible.
PHO Trends: UNDER 4-0 in last 4 road games; UNDER 7-1-2 in last 10 after scoring 100 points in previous game; UNDER 6-1 in last 7 games following ATS win.
NOP Trends: 3-0-1 ATS in last 4 following ATS win; OVER 7-1 in last 8 home games; OVER 7-1 in last 8 games following SU loss
