Suns vs Pelicans Prediction, Picks Today | Best Bet for Friday

Here's everything you need to know about Suns vs. Pelicans on Friday, Jan. 19 — our expert prediction and betting picks for today.

Let's get to our Suns vs. Pelicans prediction and pick.

Are the Phoenix Suns finally healthy and rolling? Is this the version we expected to see all along? Suns optimists will answer a resounding yes and point to the three straight victories, two against playoff level competition, and averaging just shy of 125 points per game in this span.

This is elite efficiency and a Phoenix offense that can carry them to victories. While the Suns do go on the road and have to travel, they enter this contest with a one-day rest advantage, which should benefit the team that simply needs practice time. I expect Phoenix to try and make this another pace-up contest.

The Suns rank near the bottom of the league in pace, but right around top 10 over the last five games. That is the key to Phoenix having more bodies and a clean injury report, and finally getting to the play style they anticipated. It is also a sneaky way to bet overs while the market has not fully caught up.

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The New Orleans Pelicans are one of the most underrated teams in the NBA right now, ranking fifth in the West. The top-four dominate NBA discourse, followed by discussion of the failing teams below the Pelicans. So New Orleans floats in this zone of being unnoticed, on an 8-3 run in their last 11, and possess the ability to match nearly any opponent play style.

They are dangerous and rightfully the home favorites in this game despite going against Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. The key here is that the Pelicans will match an opponent play style, and the Suns will want to play with pace.

Between Phoenix's "Big 3" and the Pelicans bringing out Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, and Jonas Valanciunas — the offensive fire power on the court cannot be ignored.

With both teams rolling and healthy, the spread for this game is fairly priced at Pelicans -2.5. There has been no significant spread movement despite the Pelicans appearing to be the early sharp side. The spread hovering around the -2 is also not a very common NBA outcome and thus not one of the more valuable spread numbers to back in either direction.

The over however, is the place where the market has been deemed inefficient. The total opened at 234.5, and sits as high as 238 on the board. The best current number is 236.5, and I would feel comfortable playing it right around here or 237, which is also available at a few shops.

The talent on the court should resemble an All Star game. Let's hope the scoring does too.

Pick: Over 236.5 (-110)

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