New Orleans Pelicans (14-43) vs San Antonio Spurs (24-31)
Game Info: Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 8:00 pm (Smoothie King Center)
Betting Odds: New Orleans Pelicans -2 -- Over/Under: 238 Click Here for the Latest Odds
Where to Watch: GCSEN
The San Antonio Spurs are set to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The Spurs, currently holding a 24-31 record, have faced challenges recently, particularly after the season-ending loss of their star center, Victor Wembanyama, due to a blood clot in his right shoulder. Since his departure, the team has struggled defensively, as evidenced by a 125-110 loss to the Detroit Pistons, where they were outscored 62-38 in the paint. In Wembanyama's absence, players like Julian Champagnie and Keldon Johnson have stepped up, each contributing 18 points in a recent game against the Pelicans. However, the team's shooting efficiency has been a concern, with a field goal percentage of just 33% in that matchup.
On the other hand, the Pelicans, with a 14-43 record, have shown signs of improvement, winning two of their last three games. Zion Williamson has been pivotal in this resurgence, averaging over 22 points in recent outings, including a 22-point, nine-rebound performance against the Spurs. The addition of Kelly Olynyk has bolstered their frontcourt, as he recorded a double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds in the same game. Rookie Yves Missi also made a significant impact, grabbing a career-high 15 rebounds.
Yves Missi Over 7.5 Rebounds
Rookie center Yves Missi has played 52 games for the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2024-25 NBA season, starting in 46 of them. Averaging 27.1 minutes per game, Missi contributes 8.0 rebounds per game, with 3.4 offensive and 4.6 defensive rebounds. His rebounding rate stands at 16.0%, indicating he secures 16% of available rebounds while on the court.
Missi is coming off a game where he secured 15 rebounds against this same Spurs team on Sunday. He’s collected 8 or more rebounds in five of his last six games as well. The Pelicans are leaning on him more and more as the season goes on and he's one of the better rookie big men in the league. Without Wimby in the paint for the Spurs, this team has suddenly lacked size which will give guys like Missi plenty of opportunities to collect boards.
Chris Paul Over 6.5 Assists
Chris Paul has played 55 games for the San Antonio Spurs during the 2024-25 NBA season, averaging 8.0 assists per game, which ranks him 7th in the league. Over these games, he has accumulated a total of 434 assists. Paul's playmaking ability continues to be a cornerstone for the Spurs' offense, facilitating scoring opportunities and maintaining team cohesion on the court.
Chris Paul has gotten over six assists in seven of his last 10 games and in that span, we saw him have two ten-assist games against the Washington Wizards and the Phoenix Suns. As of late Chris Paul hasn't been accumulating much when it comes to a scoring perspective but has been more of a facilitator for the Spurs team. He has a favorable matchup going against the Pelicans who are giving up 28.7 assists per game to opposing teams which is the fifth most in the whole league.
Zion Williamson Over 22.5 Points
Zion Williamson has played 57 games for the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2024-25 NBA season, averaging 24.5 points per game. He has achieved a field goal percentage of 54.7%, reflecting his efficiency in scoring. Notably, Williamson leads the Pelicans in both points per game (24.6) and assists per game (4.9) this season.
In a recent game against this same San Antonio Spurs team, Williamson contributed 22 points, leading the team to a 114-96 victory. His consistent scoring has been pivotal for the Pelicans, especially during challenging stretches in the season. Over the Pelican's last 10 games we've seen Zion have two 29-point games a 33-point game against the Kings and a 40-point game against the Kings as well. He should be able to get over this number of 22 points with no problem.
Brad’s Pick See Above
AUTHOR: Brad Francis
