New Orleans Pelicans vs LA Clippers Picks and Prediction for Sunday November 8 2026

New Orleans heads to Inglewood on Sunday night for a 9 PM ET game against the Clippers at Intuit Dome. The Pelicans just lost 115-109 to Minnesota on Friday, while the Clippers haven’t played since losing 117-116 to Miami on Wednesday. New Orleans has been scoring plenty, but the defense hasn’t been good enough. The Clippers have been struggling themselves, although they do have a rest advantage. This is one of those games where I wouldn’t want to lay a big price with either team.

New Orleans Pelicans Have Been Scoring but Not Defending

New Orleans is 4-5 overall and 1-2 on the road after losing to Minnesota on Friday. The Pelicans also beat Utah 120-113 in overtime earlier in the week. They’ve been playing some entertaining basketball, but the defense keeps putting them in difficult situations. Scoring 120 doesn’t help much when the opponent is getting 125.

The Pelicans are averaging 120.2 points and allowing 118.8. That’s a strong offensive number, but the defensive average needs work. New Orleans has been getting enough scoring to compete with most teams, yet it hasn’t been closing out games consistently. Against the Clippers, the Pelicans should have opportunities to attack a defense allowing more than 115 points a night.

The biggest thing New Orleans needs is a more dependable defensive effort. The Pelicans can’t keep trading baskets and hoping they make the last shot. They also need to take care of the ball because the Clippers have had more time to prepare. But offensively, New Orleans has been considerably more productive than Los Angeles.

LA Clippers Need More Offensive Production

The Clippers are 1-7 overall and 1-3 at home after losing 117-116 to Miami on Wednesday. That was a frustrating one because Los Angeles had a chance to win. The Clippers have been competitive in stretches, but they haven’t been getting enough consistent offense to finish games.

Los Angeles is averaging 109.1 points and allowing 115.6. That’s a scoring difference of more than six points per game. The Clippers have been struggling to create easy baskets, and they’ve had too many stretches where the offense stalls. New Orleans hasn’t been defending particularly well, so this is a chance for Los Angeles to get something going.

Brandon Ingram, Brandon Miller, and Bradley Beal are listed out, which creates serious questions about the Clippers’ scoring depth. Los Angeles needs more from the available rotation, especially against a Pelicans team averaging 120 points. The extra rest helps, but it doesn’t solve the offensive problems by itself.

New Orleans Pelicans vs LA Clippers Picks and Prediction

Moneyline Pick: New Orleans Pelicans

I’m taking New Orleans. The Clippers have the home court and the rest advantage, and those are legitimate reasons to consider Los Angeles. But the Pelicans are scoring 120.2 points per game, while the Clippers are barely above 109. That’s a pretty big offensive difference. New Orleans hasn’t been defending well, so I wouldn’t expect a comfortable victory. But I think the Pelicans have enough scoring to get past a Clippers team that’s been struggling to finish games.

Total Pick: Over 229.5 Points

Give me the over 229.5 if that’s the number. New Orleans is scoring 120.2 and allowing 118.8, so Pelicans games have been producing plenty of points. The Clippers haven’t been scoring particularly well, and that’s the biggest concern. But New Orleans has been giving opponents enough good looks that Los Angeles should have opportunities to improve on its average. I think both teams get into the 110s, with New Orleans doing a little more offensively.

Final Picks: New Orleans Pelicans Moneyline | Over 229.5 Points (if available)