The LA Clippers host the New Orleans Pelicans on Mon 9 Nov, 1:00 pm AEDT in what looks like one of the more watchable early-season NBA matchups. If you're hunting nba tips, this fixture gives the punter a neat story: a struggling Clippers defence up against a Pelicans offence that’s been getting buckets.
The market already has a clear tilt — the Pelicans are marginal favourites on the head-to-head board while the total is sitting up at 219.5 points. That combination sets up two straightforward angles: back the visitors to keep the scoring rolling, or bank on the game clearing the posted points line.
We’ll run the yarn — why New Orleans look sharper on paper, where the Clippers can still sting, how the 1.5-point line is playing, and which same-game multis are on the board for anyone who likes a cheeky builder.
WHO WILL WIN?
Put simply: the Pelicans carry more offence and a healthier net profile this season. New Orleans average 120.2 points per game and sit with a positive marginPerGame of 1.44, while the Clippers score 109.1 and have a negative marginPerGame of -6.5.
On the efficiency ledger the Pelicans boast an offRtg of 114.2 and a defRtg of 112.8 for a netRtg of 1.4; the Clippers’ offRtg is 108.1 with a defRtg of 114.6, leaving them with a netRtg of -6.5. That gap tells you where the game is likely to be decided — New Orleans can outscore teams at a higher clip while the Clippers are giving up more than they score.
Personnel numbers back that up: the Pelicans’ leading scorers include Zion Williamson (20.6 pts) and Dejounte Murray (16.3 pts, 5.3 ast), while New Orleans have a deeper scoring sheet overall. The Clippers’ leading scorers list shows Darius Garland top with 20.9 pts, but the supporting cast numbers and defensive splits haven’t gelled into wins yet.
The head-to-head market reflects that split: the Pelicans are the narrower pick on the board at 1.85 versus the Clippers at 1.95 (Head to Head). With both teams capable of scoring and the visitors carrying the better margin and offensive numbers, the Pelicans look the safer lean — framed as an opinion, that’s where we come down.
Tipped at $1.85 · . Opinion, not a guarantee. Gamble responsibly — 18+.
Head-to-head context
Season and last-five scoring — context for the match-winner market.
Leading scorers
Season points per game.
LA Clippers
| Player | Pts |
|---|---|
| Darius GarlandPG | 20.9 |
| Rui HachimuraPF | 14.7 |
| Brook LopezC | 13.5 |
New Orleans Pelicans
| Player | Pts |
|---|---|
| Zion WilliamsonPF | 20.6 |
| Saddiq BeySF | 16.4 |
| Dejounte MurrayPG | 16.3 |
THE LINE — shave or run with it?
The official line lists the home spread as 1.5 points, which means the Clippers are receiving a 1.5-point start and the Pelicans are effectively -1.5 on the road. That’s a tiny number and it tells me the market expects a close contest despite the statistical edge for New Orleans.
Use the season numbers to judge the cover: New Orleans score 120.2 points per game while the Clippers concede 115.6, which leans into a Pelicans scoring advantage. Conversely, the Clippers’ offence is averaging 109.1 and the Pelicans allow 118.8 — not an elite defence, but a cushion for the visitors’ attack.
A one-and-a-half point spread is a hair; if you’re siding with the Pelicans for the win you can back them to cover -1.5 for a little extra conviction. If you prefer taking the Clippers, +1.5 gives you a safety net — pick based on whether you think New Orleans’ offence will run away with it or the Clippers can keep it tight.
Tipped at $1.95 · . Opinion, not a guarantee. Gamble responsibly — 18+.
Line context
Season average margin, set against this match's line. The marker is the margin that covers.
TOTALS — will this clear 219.5 points?
The total sits at 219.5 points. Look at the scoring profiles: Pelicans average 120.2 points per game and Clippers opponents average 115.6, while Clippers score 109.1 and the Pelicans concede 118.8. Both teams are involved in reasonably high-scoring affairs by the season stats.
Those component figures suggest a clear tilt toward the over — the Pelicans’ offence combined with the Clippers’ soft defensive numbers make 219.5 look reachable. The board is already pricing that view: Over is available at 1.32 with Under at 3.25.
Opinionated lean: this one feels like it’s heading to the over unless New Orleans have an off shooting night. If the Pelicans get their usual output and the Clippers keep pace, the scoreboard should pass 219.5.
Tipped at $1.32 · . Opinion, not a guarantee. Gamble responsibly — 18+.
Total points
Hit rate vs 218.5
Season points per game. Marker is the live total of 218.5.
Combined pace 100.7 possessions per game.
SAME GAME MULTI — a couple of tidy combos
If you want to stitch a few legs together, the book’s popular same-game multis give you priced options. Two of the nicer-looking combos on the board are: "Pelicans win by 11+, Over 229.5 points & Jeremiah Fears to get 3+ assists" priced at 9.00, and "Pelicans win by 11+, Over 229.5 points & Z. Williamson to get 6+ rebounds" priced at 9.50.
There are bigger-ticket shorts if you want giddy longshots — for example, "Pelicans -1.5 point spread, Z. Williamson to get 25+ points & D. Murray to get 25+ points" is listed at 29.00. These combos lean into the Pelicans scoring theme and the expectation of a high total; pick a combo that matches how much you want to risk.