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Washington Wizards vs New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview
Washington enters Friday showing real progress, even as it waits to integrate Trae Young. The Wizards have gone 9-11 after a 1-15 start and have won five of their last eight games. The young core continues to play with pace and confidence, and Brian Keefe said the focus has narrowed to winning plays rather than development alone.
New Orleans continues to spiral. The Pelicans have dropped nine straight and are struggling to execute on both ends. Turnovers and poor spacing have defined the slide, and the offense has failed to generate consistent perimeter looks. The loss at Atlanta on Wednesday was another example of a team unable to sustain structure away from home.
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Line Movement and Odds
Washington opened -3 and the line has moved to -4 as bettors continue to fade New Orleans during the skid. The Wizards sit at -4, supported by recent form and home-court stability.
The total opened at 226.5 and has dipped to 224.5, reflecting New Orleans’ offensive inefficiency and turnover issues. Moneyline pricing favors Washington around -175, with the Pelicans near +150.
Track live changes on the NBA odds board.
Matchup Breakdown
Washington’s advantage is energy and ball movement. Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, and Bilal Coulibaly continue to shoulder scoring responsibility, and Alex Sarr anchors defensive possessions. The Wizards play faster at home and have shown improvement closing games.
New Orleans needs cleaner execution. Zion Williamson remains productive inside, but the Pelicans struggle to space the floor and protect the ball. When turnovers pile up, transition defense collapses, which has fueled the losing streak.
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Injuries and Conditions
Washington Wizards
- Trae Young, trade pending, out
- Kyle Kuzma, ankle, questionable
See full Washington Wizards injury report.
New Orleans Pelicans
- Brandon Ingram, knee, out
- CJ McCollum, traded, out
- Zion Williamson, workload management, probable
See full New Orleans Pelicans injury report.
This game is indoors, no weather impact.
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Best Bets and Prediction
Washington’s trajectory points up, while New Orleans continues to struggle with turnovers and road execution. Until the Pelicans show defensive stability, backing them remains risky.
Projected Score: Wizards 115, Pelicans 108
Best Bet: Wizards -4
Secondary Lean: Under 224.5
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