Pelicans vs. Clippers Prediction and Odds (Trust New Orleans to Stay Hot on the Road)

The New Orleans Pelicans were supposed to be in a transitional year, but once they traded for C.J. McCollum on February 8th, everything began to change.

Now, the Pelicans own the 9-seed in the Western Conference and face the team directly in front of them in the standings; the L.A. Clippers on Sunday night in Los Angeles.

New Orleans has won seven of their last 10 games; riding a three-game winning streak into Sunday evening's matchup. Meanwhile, the Clippers have been a complete roller coaster in their last three games. They've come back from 25 in the second half to the Jazz, blew a game late to the Bulls on two brutal foul calls, and then dropped 153 on the road vs. the Bucks that had four of their top five players out.

It's a huge matchup for seeding in the West play-in tournament, so who comes out on top?

Here's the latest odds for tonight's Western Conference showdown courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook:

Pelicans vs. Clippers Odds, Spread and Total

Spread:

• Pelicans +2.5 (-110)
• Clippers -2.5 (-110)

Moneyline:

• Pelicans +120
• Clippers -145

Total:

• 223.5 (OVER -110 | UNDER -110)

Pelicans vs. Clippers Prediction and Pick

It's good to have Paul George back for the Clippers down the stretch, but are we sure that the right team is actually favored here?

The 153 points scored vs. Milwaukee looks exceptional on paper, until you realize that the Bucks didn't have Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kris Middleton, Jrue Holiday or Brook Lopez in the lineup. Zoom out a few more games since George returned, and the results aren't exactly impressive.

Sure, they fought back down 25 in the second half to a Jazz team that's still looking for consistency, but they were also getting outplayed and out-hustled for the bulk of that game. They then made two of the dumbest fouls I've seen in a game this year down three to the Bulls late in Chicago.

Meanwhile, New Orleans since March 1 has been a top 10 team both in offensive and defensive rating this season. They're real only bad loss in their last three weeks came back on March 15 to the Phoenix Suns (131-115), who happen to be by far and away the best team in the NBA this season.

The Pelicans are also covering consistently as well. Not only are they 7-3 straight up over their last 10, they're also 7-3-0 ATS.

With a win, News Orleans guarantees themselves a spot in the Play-In round with a Lakers loss.

The Clippers are all but in already, and while they'd like to put some distance between New Orleans, the Pels have been the far more trustworthy team over the last several weeks. I'll take the points tonight in Los Angeles.

PICK: Pelicans +2.5 (-110)

Follow all of Ben Heisler's betting plays in real-time HERE