The Phoenix Suns won Game 1 against the New Orleans Pelicans by double digits, thanks in large part to a fast start in the first half. In Game 2, the Pelicans will look to play more like they did in the second half of the game. If they can do that, they will have a fighting chance to steal a game on the road to make this series interesting in a hurry. In our NBA predictions for Tuesday night, we look at Pelicans vs Suns Game 2 and determine if this series is set to be competitive starting with this contest.
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Pelicans vs Suns Game 2 Betting Pick
This game will be played at Footprint Center at 10:00 PM ET on Tuesday, April 19, 2022.
Why Bet The Pelicans:
✅ New Orleans fell behind by 23 early on in this game, but did a great job of fighting back in the second half. They cut the Suns lead to six points in the fourth quarter, and clearly have a chance to win this game if they can simply avoid falling behind by so much early on. They will keep this game within single digits.
✅ Jonas Valanciunas dominated the glass for the Pelicans, which will help them cover the number in this contest as well. He grabbed 25 rebounds and 13 offensive rebounds against the Suns in Game 1, and the Pelicans scored 29 second chance points in that first matchup. The ability of the Pelicans to create second chances will help them get close to winning this game.
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✅ The Pelicans shot under 40% against the Suns in Game 1, with Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, and Jonas Valanciunas all shooting under 50% for the game. They will get a better performance out of at least one of their stars from the field, which will help them keep this game closer for much longer.
New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans had a disastrous first half offensively in Game 1 against the Phoenix Suns, with the shock of competing in the playoffs clearly impacting them. They shot under 40% as a team and failed to break 20 points in either of the first two quarters of the game. They were much better in the second half, though, and gave themselves a chance to come back late in the contest.
In Game 2, a stronger start will be a must for the Pelicans, who will look to continue to create chances for themselves on the offensive glass once again. They scored 29 second chance points in Game 1 against the Suns, dwarfing the second chance point total of any other team in the first games of the playoffs. If they can continue to get offensive rebounds and second shot chances, the Pelicans could very well win this game outright.
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns looked every bit like the best team in the NBA in the first game of this series against the Pelicans. They held the Pelicans under 40 points in the first half, amassing a 19-point halftime lead that was too much for New Orleans to come back from. But the Suns were far from perfect in Game 1, as they let the Pelicans get back into the game in the second half.
The defensive glass has to be the top priority for the Suns in Game 2, as they were woeful at closing out defensive possessions with rebounds. Deandre Ayton needs help on the boards against Jonas Valanciunas, as the Pelicans had a clear advantage when fighting for loose balls.