NBA Predictions Today: New Orleans Pelicans vs Atlanta Hawks Picks and Odds on November 4

The New Orleans Pelicans look to sustain its winning momentum while the Atlanta Hawks aim to snap a four-game losing skid as both teams square off this Sunday at the Smoothie King Center.

New Orleans heads into this game in high spirits following a 125-118 victory over the Indiana Pacers while Atlanta is in dire need of a victory after dropping its fourth consecutive game on Friday

• As such, the Pelicans opened as a moderate 5.5-poing favorite as per the latest New Orleans Pelicans vs Atlanta Hawks betting lines.
• It was Atlanta, however, that took the season series last year winning two of their three meetings.
• Both teams have struggled this season as far as covering the spread is concerned with the Hawks coming into this game with an embarrassing 0-6 Against-The-Spread (ATS) card and the Pelicans sporting a 2-4 ATS slate.

Will the Pelicans draw first blood or will the Hawks continue its mastery over the former? That remains to be seen but as of press time, here’s how both teams look as they enter this pivotal matchup.

New Orleans Pelicans vs Atlanta Hawks FanDuel NBA Odds for November 3

Moneyline

• New Orleans Pelicans: -235
• Atlanta Hawks: +194

Spread

• New Orleans Pelicans: -5.5 (-110)
• Atlanta Hawks: +5.5 (-110)

Over/Under (Total)

• OVER 228 (-110)
• UNDER 228 (-110)

New Orleans Pelicans vs Atlanta Hawks Injury Report

New Orleans Pelicans Injury Report

1. Herbert Jones – Right Shoulder – Out
2. CJ McCollum – Right Adductor Strain – Out
3. Dejounte Murray – Hand – Out
4. Trey Murphy III – Hamstring – Out

Atlanta Hawks Injury Report

1. Dyson Daniels – Hip – Day-to-Day
2. Seth Lundy – Ankle – Out
3. Cody Zeller – Personal – Out
4. DeAndre Hunter – Knee – Out
5. Kobe Bufkin – Shoulder – Out
6. Bogdan Bogdanovic – Hamstring – Out
7. Vit Krejci – Thigh – Out
8. Dominick Barlow – Back – Out

Best NBA odds for New Orleans Pelicans vs Atlanta Hawks

• The New Orleans Pelicans have covered the spread in all of their home games this season. Stake offers the best New Orleans Pelicans odds for the home team to pick up a dominant win at -227.
• The Atlanta Hawks have beaten the New Orleans Pelicans in two of their three meetings last season. The best odds for the Hawks to win outright are available on FanDuel for a solid price of +194.
• The under hit in four of the last six meetings between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Atlanta Hawks. The best New Orleans Pelicans vs Atlanta Hawks odds for the under are available on FanDuel at -110.

Why will the New Orleans Pelicans cover the spread?

The New Orleans Pelicans started the new season winning their first two games but immediately found themselves bleeding for victories as they lost their next three.

New Orleans returned to the win column on Friday with a 125-118 beating of Indiana Pacers thanks to a season-high 34 points from forward Zion Williamson who also had 10 assists, six rebounds, and two steals to boot.

The Pelicans have a chance to extend its win streak and they may have a better chance of doing so as they take on a banged-up Atlanta Hawks team.

Atlanta heads into this matchup, likely missing eight players but no one bigger than Serbian swingman Bogdan Bogdanovic who had a career year last season, averaging 16.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists.

• It is also worth noting that while the Pelicans have covered the spread in all of their home games this spread, making the current line a possible steal at these current odds.
• Small forward Brandon Ingram has also upped his scoring averages by more than two points this season, posting 22.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists across five appearances.

With the injury bug in Atlanta and the continuous ascent of Ingram as one of the league’s primary offensive weapons, backing the Pelicans to not only cover the spread but to win in dominant fashion could offer potential value.

Of course, the Pelicans will have to close out on Hawks guard Trae Young and their opponents’ shooters but that shouldn’t be hard to do, considering they are among the league’s best defensive teams, recording 9.4 steals and 7.6 blocks per game.

Why will the Atlanta Hawks cover the spread?

Injuries have hampered the Atlanta Hawks ascent to the top this season as they’ve lost four of their first six games but there are a few things to be optimistic as they take on a struggling New Orleans Pelicans squad.

• Even though the Hawks have struggled this season, spitfire guard Trae Young has picked up where he left off last season, averaging 28.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and a league-leading 11.6 assists per game.
• Atlanta has also shown its ability to put points on the board, averaging 117.2 points per game, which is tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder for 10th best in the league.

One thing the Hawks have to address in this game is the rebounding battle. Against the Sacramento Kings, Atlanta was out-rebounded 51-40 and what’s even worse is they gave the former 10 second chance opportunities.

Moreover, Atlanta also needs rookie forward Zaccharie Risacher to step up against the Pelicans to snap its four-game losing skid.

The 19-year old Risacher was only limited to three points on 1-for-9 shooting against the Kings after exploding for 17 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block against the Washington Wizards.

Should Young continue to deliver his usual numbers and get the offensive support from his supporting cast, backing the Hawks to cover and potentially win outright offers a great value, considering the head-to-head history between these teams last season.

Final New Orleans Pelicans vs Atlanta Hawks NBA Prediction: New Orleans Pelicans -5.5 (-110)

I have gone back-and-forth with this matchup, considering the recent head-to-head history of the New Orleans Pelicans and the Atlanta Hawks.

But I am going out of the limb here and picking the Pelicans to cover the spread and extend their win streak to two.

With forwards Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson back in their tip-top shapes, expect the Pelicans to pull away late in what could be a neck-and-neck affair.