Pelicans minus 3 1/2 at 76ers
The Pelicans have revenge for an embarrassing 99-88 home loss to the 76ers just 12 days ago and want desperately to salvage a win on this last leg of a three-game road trip. New Orleans is stepping way down in class after consecutive losses to the Spurs and Rockets during the first two games of its road trip.
New Orleans didn’t have Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans in their earlier meeting with the 76ers. Now both are back. The Pelicans are a much better team when Holiday plays because it allows Tim Frazier to come off the bench while greatly improving the team’s guard depth.
If the Pelicans are serious about being a Western Conference playoff contender they can’t be losing to the 76ers. New Orleans has a history of faring well against Eastern Conference opponents covering six of the past seven times versus them.
The 76ers have promising big men Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel. However, they are all dwarfed by Anthony Davis, the best big man in the game.
(I have won my last six NBA sides plays and have my December Game of the Month going today in addition to this free selection.)
