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  1. Home
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  3. Washington Wizards vs New Orleans Pelicans
Fri 8:00 PM ET
Washington Wizards logo
Washington
Wizards120
2-2
versus
New Orleans Pelicans logo
New Orleans
Pelicans132
0-3
Final
Team1234T
Washington Wizards37312923120
New Orleans Pelicans29333535132
NBA · Washington Wizards at New Orleans Pelicans

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Washington Wizards vs New Orleans Pelicans Betting Picks & Predictions

Game time: January 3, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET

Venue: Smoothie King Center — New Orleans, LA

Article updated Jan 3, 1:09 AM EST

Published by SportsJaw Editorial Team

The Washington Wizards will face off against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night in a match-up between two struggling teams in the NBA. With records of 6-25 and 5-29

Game outlook

The Washington Wizards will face off against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night in a match-up between two struggling teams in the NBA. With records of 6-25 and 5-29 respectively, both teams are currently positioned as potential candidates for the NBA Draft Lottery. The game is set to begin at 8:15 pm EST, with New Orleans favored to win by a spread of -7. Stay tuned for the prediction for the outcome of the Wizards/Pelicans game.

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Wizards +225 | Pelicans -265

Spread: Wizards +7 (-110) | Pelicans -7 (-110)

Total: Over/Under 232.5 (-110)

Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that New Orleans will win straight-up is 73%.

Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards defeated the Bulls in their last game, led by Jordan Poole's impressive performance. Poole scored 30 points, hitting six 3-point field goals. The team had seven players score in double figures, including rookie Alex Sarr. The win broke a two-game losing streak and marked the Wizards' third win in their last ten games, bringing their season record to 6-25. Despite their struggles, the Wizards are aiming for another win against the Pelicans. The team ranks 23rd in scoring, 27th in field goal and 3-point shooting, and last in offensive efficiency. Defensively, they rank last in scoring defense but are 13th in 3-point defense. Key injuries include Russell Westbrook, Brandon Clarke, and Mensud Jukovic. The Wizards have a power ranking of 30 and are 24th in offense and 30th in defense this season. Offensively, they shoot 44.18% from the field and 32.74% from three-point range. Defensively, they allow a 47.37% field goal percentage and 35.88% three-point percentage. The team averages 44.07 rebounds per game and 24.73 offensive assists but also 15.63 turnovers. Defensive stats include 48.80 defensive rebounds and 28.40 defensive assists, with 12.73 turnovers per game.

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Picks are opinions, not guarantees. Past results do not predict future outcomes.

New Orleans Pelicans Analysis

The New Orleans Pelicans are currently struggling with the worst record in the NBA, having lost 11 straight games. Despite a strong performance from Trey Murphy III, the team has struggled with scoring, field goal shooting, and defensive efficiency. They are facing multiple key injuries, including players like Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram who are out. The team's upcoming game against the Wizards will be a challenging one. The Pelicans are ranked 29th in power rankings and are facing an uphill battle to turn their season around. Additionally, the team has shown weaknesses in their offensive and defensive statistics, ranking poorly in several categories. Fans and bettors are advised to approach the Pelicans' games with caution given their current struggles.

Wizards vs. Pelicans: Draft hopefuls face off in matchup with Wizards favored to win

In an upcoming match between the Pelicans and the Wizards, both teams are vying for the top pick in this year's draft. Despite having more talent, the Pelicans will be at a disadvantage as their top scorers are sidelined. On the other hand, the Wizards are in better shape and have guard Poole performing exceptionally well. With the Pelicans struggling defensively and offensively, Poole's consistent high-scoring performance will likely be the deciding factor in this game. The Wizards also have an advantage in rebounding, being ranked 12th in the NBA compared to the Pelicans at 23rd. Considering both teams' shooting performances, the Wizards are expected to come out on top. In conclusion, the healthier and more consistent Wizards team is the recommended choice for this competition.

SportsJawGame Predictions
Predicted score

Unavailable for this preview

Projected winnerUnavailableConfidencelow
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Published pick: Unavailable

Pick on the Total

Published pick: Unavailable

#WashingtonWizards#NewOrleansPelicans

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Written by

SportsJaw Editorial Team

SportsJaw published this archived preview from its original game-day article. Its prediction and quoted lines are preserved as written.

About our editorial process

SportsJaw Wizards vs Pelicans archived game preview contains historical odds and availability that may no longer be current. View history of past Wizards vs Pelicans matchups or learn how our predictions work.

Current matchup data

Lines, trends and availability

Line movement since open

  • Moneyline · Washington Wizards+194 → +255Moved
  • Moneyline · New Orleans Pelicans-235 → -310Moved
  • Spread · Washington Wizards+5.5 (-110) → +7.5 (-110)Moved
  • Spread · New Orleans Pelicans-5.5 (-110) → -7.5 (-110)Moved
  • Total · Over232.5 (-110) → 232.5 (-110)Unchanged
  • Total · Under232.5 (-110) → 232.5 (-110)Unchanged

ATS and O/U trends

Washington Wizards
2-2 matchup record · 6-3-1 ATS · 5-5-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file
New Orleans Pelicans
0-3 matchup record · 4-6-0 ATS · 7-3-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file

Injuries and availability

From the published research (2025-01-03T06:09:37.055Z). Availability may have changed; review the cited sources.

The Washington Wizards defeated the Bulls in their last game, led by Jordan Poole's impressive performance. Poole scored 30 points, hitting six 3-point field goals. The team had seven players score in double figures, including rookie Alex Sarr. The win broke a two-game losing streak and marked the Wizards' third win in their last ten games, bringing their season record to 6-25. Despite their struggles, the Wizards are aiming for another win against the Pelicans. The team ranks 23rd in scoring, 27th in field goal and 3-point shooting, and last in offensive efficiency. Defensively, they rank last in scoring defense but are 13th in 3-point defense. Key injuries include Russell Westbrook, Brandon Clarke, and Mensud Jukovic. The Wizards have a power ranking of 30 and are 24th in offense and 30th in defense this season. Offensively, they shoot 44.18% from the field and 32.74% from three-point range. Defensively, they allow a 47.37% field goal percentage and 35.88% three-point percentage. The team averages 44.07 rebounds per game and 24.73 offensive assists but also 15.63 turnovers. Defensive stats include 48.80 defensive rebounds and 28.40 defensive assists, with 12.73 turnovers per game.

The New Orleans Pelicans are currently struggling with the worst record in the NBA, having lost 11 straight games. Despite a strong performance from Trey Murphy III, the team has struggled with scoring, field goal shooting, and defensive efficiency. They are facing multiple key injuries, including players like Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram who are out. The team's upcoming game against the Wizards will be a challenging one. The Pelicans are ranked 29th in power rankings and are facing an uphill battle to turn their season around. Additionally, the team has shown weaknesses in their offensive and defensive statistics, ranking poorly in several categories. Fans and bettors are advised to approach the Pelicans' games with caution given their current struggles.

Recent head-to-head

No completed head-to-head result is available in the current history window.

Final result

Matchup pick recap

New Orleans Pelicans defeated Washington Wizards 132-120

New Orleans Pelicans defeated Washington Wizards 132-120 on January 3, 2025, a 12-point decision in the series. New Orleans Pelicans' strongest period was the 4th quarter, when it outscored its opponent 35-23. Against SportsJaw's recorded Washington Wizards +7.5 (-110) spread, New Orleans Pelicans covered, while the 252 combined points finished over the recorded total of 232.5.

SportsJaw editorial picks

  • Projected winnerNo published selectionUnavailable

Tipster picks

  • 1707662905Spread · Washington Wizards +6 (-110)Loss
  • CovergirlTotal · Over 232.5 (-110)Win