San Antonio Spurs vs New Orleans Pelicans Picks and Predictions March 15th 2025

San Antonio Spurs vs New Orleans Pelicans March 15th 2025

At 8:30 ET, the Pelicans (-174) will take on the Spurs (+145) in a Western Southwest division matchup. San Antonio (27-38) is 4th in the Southwest, while New Orleans (18-49) is 5th. The over/under line is set at 237.5 points.

This game will be played at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio and can be seen on KENS.

For the latest insights and betting advice, check out our updated NBA Expert Picks for this Western Conference matchup.

NBA Championship Contenders & Betting Odds! – Find out which teams have the best value.

Pelicans vs. Spurs Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: New Orleans Pelicans at San Antonio Spurs
• Where: San Antonio at Frost Bank Center
• Date: Saturday, March 15th
• Betting Odds NO -4, NO -174 | SA +145 O/U 237.5

The Pelicans Can Win If…

New Orleans fell to 18-49 on the season after a 113-93 loss to the Magic on Thursday. The Pelicans, who were +2 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread at home. The total score of 206 points was below the O/U line of 215.5.

Orlando took control early with an 11-0 run, turning an 8-6 deficit into a 17-8 lead. The Magic dominated the 2nd quarter, outscoring the Pelicans 36-15. New Orleans showed some fight in the 2nd half, winning the 3rd quarter 27-20 and the 4th 28-25, but couldn’t overcome the 88-65 deficit heading into the final period.

In their 113-93 loss to the Magic, the Pelicans struggled offensively, shooting just 44.3% from the field and hitting only 7 threes at a 28% clip. Zion Williamson led the way with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists, shooting 53.3% from the floor.

Trey Murphy added 17 points, while Jose Alvarado scored all 12 of his points in the 4th quarter. Zion contributed 8 points in the 1st quarter and 6 more in the 4th.

The Pelicans struggled defensively in the 1st and 2nd quarters, giving up 32 and 36 points, respectively, but tightened up in the 3rd, allowing just 20 points. They conceded 25 points in the 4th, leading to a 113-93 loss to the Magic.

New Orleans allowed Orlando to shoot 51% from the field, including 39% from three-point range, with the Magic hitting 13 threes. The Pelicans sent Orlando to the line 18 times, where they made 14 free throws. Defensively, the Pelicans recorded 3 steals and 4 blocks.

• When looking at their past five road matchups, New Orleans has an ATS record of 1-4 while averaging 118 per game. The team went 2-3 overall in these games.
• In their last five contests as the favorite, New Orleans has a poor record vs the spread going 2-3. But, they still put together a straight up mark of 4-1.
• Over their last five games, the Pelicans have an over/under record of 2-3 and are 2-3 vs. the spread.

The Spurs Can Win If…

The Spurs fell to 27-38 on the season after a 145-134 home loss to the Hornets on Friday. San Antonio, favored by 2.5 points, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points of 279.5 easily surpassed the over/under line of 232.5.

San Antonio found themselves down 121-95 entering the 4th quarter but made a push with an 11-0 run, narrowing the score to 141-130 before ultimately falling short. They outscored Charlotte 39-24 in the final quarter.

The Spurs shot 50.5% from the field and connected on 21 threes at a 45.7% clip in their 145-134 loss to the Hornets. Stephon Castle led the way with 26 points, hitting 3 threes, while Devin Vassell added 22 points and 3 made threes.

Castle scored 8 points in both the 2nd and 3rd quarters, and Vassell put up 10 points in the 1st. Sandro Mamukelashvili was big in the 4th, scoring 11 of his 13 points, and Julian Champagnie added 9 of his 12 points in the 3rd.

The Spurs struggled defensively against the Hornets, giving up 145 points on 60% shooting. San Antonio allowed 37 points in the 1st quarter, 44 in the 2nd, and 40 in the 3rd, before tightening up in the 4th, where they allowed 24 points.

Charlotte hit 26 threes at a 56% clip. The Spurs sent the Hornets to the line 19 times, where they made 17 free throws. San Antonio finished with 14 steals and 5 blocks.

• In their last ten games at home, the Spurs have a straight up record of 2-8 while going 2-8 vs. the spread. The team averaged 112 points per game in this stretch.
• The last five games that San Antonio was the underdog, they have an ATS mark of 1-4 while going 1-4 straight up.
• In their last three games, the Spurs have an over/under record of 3-0 and are 1-2 vs. the spread.

The Lean

Our bet is on the Pelicans for a win, and we project the score to be 133-92. Additionally, we expect them to cover the spread, so our recommendation is to wager on the Pelicans with the spread at -4.

Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 237.5 and given that our model is projecting 225 points between the teams, we like the under.

Spurs Look to Stay in Play-In Hunt

The San Antonio Spurs return to action Saturday night, hosting the New Orleans Pelicans in the final game of their four-game homestand. With New Orleans already eliminated from playoff contention, the Spurs are still mathematically in the race for the Western Conference play-in tournament, sitting 4.5 games behind the 10th-place Dallas Mavericks. However, with only 17 games left, every matchup is critical for San Antonio’s slim postseason hopes.

Spurs Struggling Without De’Aaron Fox

San Antonio (27-38) is coming off a 145-134 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, a game that further highlighted their defensive issues. Playing without star guard De’Aaron Fox, who was ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a torn ligament in his pinkie finger, the Spurs allowed Charlotte to dominate from the perimeter, trailing by 26 points at halftime and never mounting a serious comeback.

Stephon Castle led the way with 26 points, while Devin Vassell added 22. Jeremy Sochan contributed 14, with Sandro Mamukelashvili (13 points) and Keldon Johnson (12 points) providing some additional offense. However, defensive lapses and perimeter breakdowns continue to be a major concern, especially as the Spurs play the second game of a back-to-back.

San Antonio has now lost four of its last five games, and its defense ranks among the worst in the NBA, allowing over 120 points per game during this stretch. The Spurs will need a more disciplined effort to slow down a Pelicans team that has already defeated them twice this season.

Pelicans Looking to Stop Late-Season Slide

New Orleans (18-49) enters Saturday’s contest having lost five of its past six games, including a 113-93 defeat to the Orlando Magic on Thursday. The Pelicans trailed by 30 points at halftime and never recovered, continuing a stretch of inconsistent performances on both ends of the floor.

Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 20 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in the loss. Trey Murphy III chipped in 17 points, while Jose Alvarado scored 12, all coming in the fourth quarter. Despite Williamson’s efforts, the Pelicans have struggled to find rhythm offensively, shooting below 45% in three of their past four games.

One bright spot has been the development of second-year guard Jordan Hawkins, who has scored in double figures in nine of his past 11 games. With injuries impacting New Orleans’ backcourt, Hawkins has taken on a bigger role, showing promise as a secondary scorer.

Head-to-Head Season Series Analysis

The Pelicans hold a 2-1 lead in the season series after securing back-to-back wins over the Spurs in New Orleans last month. San Antonio won the first meeting between the teams at home on December 8, and a victory on Saturday would even the series before the teams meet for a final time later this season.

Given the Spurs’ defensive struggles and the Pelicans’ inconsistency, this matchup presents an intriguing angle for bettors evaluating the spread and total points.

Handicapper Insight

According to the latest data from ScoresAndStats.com, NBA handicapper Jim Feist has been particularly sharp recently, going 7-3 in his last 10 NBA picks. His recent analysis suggests that the Pelicans’ defensive inconsistencies make them a risky betting option despite their slight edge in the season series. Bettors looking for value may find San Antonio appealing as a home underdog, particularly if the spread shifts leading up to tip-off.

Track Every NBA Team’s Performance! – Get in-depth stats & rankings.

Expert Prediction and Betting Insight

San Antonio’s struggles on the second night of back-to-back games (2-10 this season) should be a concern for bettors, as fatigue could play a factor in their defensive execution. However, New Orleans has been equally unreliable, failing to cover the spread in four of its last five outings.

Given both teams’ struggles, the safest bet may lie in the total points market. With San Antonio’s defensive woes and New Orleans’ ability to push the tempo, this game has the potential to go over the projected total. The Spurs’ motivation to stay in the play-in hunt could also provide some betting value, particularly if they are listed as slight underdogs at home.