Suns vs Pelicans Odds, Pick, Prediction | NBA Betting Preview (Monday, April 1)

Here's everything you need to know about Suns vs. Pelicans on Monday, April 1 — our expert prediction and betting picks for today's game.

Phoenix is a short road favorite on the spread in Monday's contest, and my Suns vs. Pelicans pick and prediction is on the visiting team to cover the number. The over/under is set at 225 total points at FanDuel.

At this point of the season, the Phoenix Suns have perhaps the most variability in their season outcomes. They may be championship contenders and Denver's biggest threat, or they might be in danger of outright missing the playoffs now sitting in the 8-seed and play-in race.

Suns' backers will cite health and a sense of urgency because the situation. Honestly, I am willing to buy into both. When this team is healthy, they possess a solid record, a historic offense, and a defensive coach I trust to put it together.

Right now only Damion Lee is on the injury report and while Nurkic and Beal have admitted to being banged up, the core group of the Suns will all be active. I think they get this one done and outscore New Orleans who doesn't have the 3-point volume to make Phoenix pay.

Coach Willie Green is pressing all the right buttons, and in a recent interview he said Brandon Ingram is starting to begin on-court work but will still be inactive for this game against the Suns.

That is going to be a big blow trying to defend the player Ingram is always compared to, Kevin Durant.

While Herb Jones and Trey Murphy have been fine fill-in starters on the wings, the lack of wing depth comes as a tough test against a team that is now fully loaded there.

The Pelicans will have to beat the Suns on the interior with Zion and JoVal, but when the Pelicans have been forced to play big, they have been less successful. Willie Green has even gone multiple games benching the big man lineups and going all small — a move that probably won't work in this contest.

The Suns appear to be the "sharp side" of the betting market, opening as 1-point underdogs and now standing as a consensus 1-point favorite.

You can still find a pick'em or -0.5 spread, which is somewhat important because you get the outright win on the -1.

If you are faced with a decision of playing the -1 or moneyline, take the ML if it is only five cents more expensive! One-point margins are the 11th-most common outcome in the NBA. It happens, but not too often!

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