New Orleans Pelicans

No NBA team lost more backing its side to win in 2025-26 than the Pelicans, 26.59 units, yet they beat the spread 44 times in 82. Pelicans predictions for the games ahead are above; where the New Orleans Pelicans covers came from is below.

Two different bets

One unit on New Orleans to win, in 81 priced games, lost 26.59 units: the worst figure in the league. On the road it lost 17.58, also the worst, with a 9-32 record away. Against the spread the same team went 44-38, 53.7%: six teams better, five level, Detroit and Denver among those five.

How does a 26-56 team cover more than half its games? By losing by less than the spread. The first cover came on 31 October, a 126-124 loss at the LA Clippers getting 10.5. In November the Pelicans went 3-13 and still covered ten; seven of the thirteen defeats beat the number. December repeated the pattern, 5-9 with nine covers in 14, and March did it again at 6-9 with nine covers in 15. The longest price the Pelicans cashed was +400, 104-95 at the San Antonio Spurs on 25 January.

At home

Home was the best of it: 25 covers in 41, 61.0%, a rate topped only by the Knicks and Charlotte, and equalled by the Portland Trail Blazers. Away the cover count was 19 of 41.

The 17 games as favorite

Favored 17 times, New Orleans won 13 and covered 13, 76.5%; only the Brooklyn Nets had a better favorite cover rate. The moneyline in those games made 2.63 units. The four misses were two losses to the Milwaukee Bucks, one to the Miami Heat, and a 117-113 defeat at the Sacramento Kings at -245. As underdogs the moneyline lost 29.22 units over 64 games, the most in the NBA.

The teams met most

The Dallas Mavericks lost three of four and the Pelicans covered all four. The Utah Jazz lost all three, three covers. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns won all four meetings, each allowing New Orleans a single cover.

The total

Forty-one overs, 41 unders. Nothing to lean on.

Questions and answers