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New Orleans Pelicans

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No NBA team lost more backing its side to win in 2025-26 than the Pelicans, 26.59 units, yet they beat the spread 44 times in 82. Pelicans predictions for the games ahead are above; where the New Orleans Pelicans covers came from is below.

Two different bets

One unit on New Orleans to win, in 81 priced games, lost 26.59 units: the worst figure in the league. On the road it lost 17.58, also the worst, with a 9-32 record away. Against the spread the same team went 44-38, 53.7%: six teams better, five level, Detroit and Denver among those five.

One unit on the Pelicans to win, every game0-25-20-15-10-5-26.59 unitsfirst gamelast game
Running total over 81 priced 2025-26 regular-season games, at the pre-game moneyline. Source: ESPN results and pre-game lines.

How does a 26-56 team cover more than half its games? By losing by less than the spread. The first cover came on 31 October, a 126-124 loss at the LA Clippers getting 10.5. In November the Pelicans went 3-13 and still covered ten; seven of the thirteen defeats beat the number. December repeated the pattern, 5-9 with nine covers in 14, and March did it again at 6-9 with nine covers in 15. The longest price the Pelicans cashed was +400, 104-95 at the San Antonio Spurs on 25 January.

The Pelicans 2025-26 regular season, game by game2025-10-22 at Memphis Grizzlies 122-1282025-10-24 v San Antonio Spurs 116-1202025-10-27 v Boston Celtics 90-1222025-10-29 at Denver Nuggets 88-1222025-10-31 at LA Clippers 124-1262025-11-02 at Oklahoma City Thunder 106-1372025-11-04 v Charlotte Hornets 116-1122025-11-05 at Dallas Mavericks 101-992025-11-08 at San Antonio Spurs 119-1262025-11-10 at Phoenix Suns 98-1212025-11-12 v Portland Trail Blazers 117-1252025-11-14 v Los Angeles Lakers 104-1182025-11-16 v Golden State Warriors 106-1242025-11-17 v Oklahoma City Thunder 109-1262025-11-19 v Denver Nuggets 118-1252025-11-21 at Dallas Mavericks 115-1182025-11-22 v Atlanta Hawks 98-1152025-11-24 v Chicago Bulls 143-1302025-11-26 v Memphis Grizzlies 128-1332025-11-29 at Golden State Warriors 96-1042025-11-30 at Los Angeles Lakers 121-1332025-12-02 v Minnesota Timberwolves 142-1492025-12-04 v Minnesota Timberwolves 116-1252025-12-06 at Brooklyn Nets 101-1192025-12-08 v San Antonio Spurs 132-1352025-12-11 v Portland Trail Blazers 143-1202025-12-14 at Chicago Bulls 114-1042025-12-18 v Houston Rockets 133-1282025-12-20 v Indiana Pacers 128-1092025-12-22 v Dallas Mavericks 119-1132025-12-23 at Cleveland Cavaliers 118-1412025-12-26 v Phoenix Suns 108-1152025-12-27 v Phoenix Suns 114-1232025-12-29 v New York Knicks 125-1302025-12-31 at Chicago Bulls 118-1342026-01-02 v Portland Trail Blazers 109-1222026-01-04 at Miami Heat 106-1252026-01-06 v Los Angeles Lakers 103-1112026-01-07 at Atlanta Hawks 100-1172026-01-09 at Washington Wizards 128-1072026-01-11 at Orlando Magic 118-1282026-01-13 v Denver Nuggets 116-1222026-01-14 v Brooklyn Nets 116-1132026-01-16 at Indiana Pacers 119-1272026-01-18 at Houston Rockets 110-1192026-01-21 v Detroit Pistons 104-1122026-01-23 at Memphis Grizzlies 133-1272026-01-25 at San Antonio Spurs 104-952026-01-27 at Oklahoma City Thunder 95-1042026-01-30 v Memphis Grizzlies 114-1062026-01-31 at Philadelphia 76ers 114-1242026-02-02 at Charlotte Hornets 95-1022026-02-04 at Milwaukee Bucks 137-1412026-02-06 at Minnesota Timberwolves 119-1152026-02-09 v Sacramento Kings 120-942026-02-11 v Miami Heat 111-1232026-02-20 v Milwaukee Bucks 118-1392026-02-21 v Philadelphia 76ers 126-1112026-02-24 v Golden State Warriors 113-1092026-02-26 at Utah Jazz 129-1182026-02-28 at Utah Jazz 115-1052026-03-01 at LA Clippers 117-1372026-03-03 at Los Angeles Lakers 101-1102026-03-05 at Sacramento Kings 133-1232026-03-06 at Phoenix Suns 116-1182026-03-08 v Washington Wizards 138-1182026-03-11 v Toronto Raptors 122-1112026-03-13 at Houston Rockets 105-1072026-03-16 v Dallas Mavericks 129-1112026-03-18 v LA Clippers 124-1092026-03-19 v LA Clippers 105-992026-03-21 v Cleveland Cavaliers 106-1112026-03-24 at New York Knicks 116-1212026-03-26 at Detroit Pistons 108-1292026-03-27 at Toronto Raptors 106-1192026-03-29 v Houston Rockets 102-1342026-04-02 at Portland Trail Blazers 106-1182026-04-03 at Sacramento Kings 113-1172026-04-05 v Orlando Magic 108-1122026-04-07 v Utah Jazz 156-1372026-04-10 at Boston Celtics 118-1442026-04-12 at Minnesota Timberwolves 126-132Wins above the line, losses below; bar length is the margincovered the spreaddid not cover0
26-56 in 82 games. Source: ESPN results and pre-game lines.

At home

Home was the best of it: 25 covers in 41, 61.0%, a rate topped only by the Knicks and Charlotte, and equalled by the Portland Trail Blazers. Away the cover count was 19 of 41.

The Pelicans at home, away, as favorite and as underdogHome (41)won 17 (41.5%)covered 25 of 41 (61.0%)Away (41)won 9 (22.0%)covered 19 of 41 (46.3%)Favorite (17)won 13 (76.5%)covered 13 of 17 (76.5%)Underdog (65)won 13 (20.0%)covered 31 of 65 (47.7%)50%
2025-26 regular season. Neutral-site games are in neither home nor away. Source: ESPN results and pre-game lines.

The 17 games as favorite

Favored 17 times, New Orleans won 13 and covered 13, 76.5%; only the Brooklyn Nets had a better favorite cover rate. The moneyline in those games made 2.63 units. The four misses were two losses to the Milwaukee Bucks, one to the Miami Heat, and a 117-113 defeat at the Sacramento Kings at -245. As underdogs the moneyline lost 29.22 units over 64 games, the most in the NBA.

The teams met most

The Dallas Mavericks lost three of four and the Pelicans covered all four. The Utah Jazz lost all three, three covers. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns won all four meetings, each allowing New Orleans a single cover.

The total

Forty-one overs, 41 unders. Nothing to lean on.

Questions and answers

Did betting the Pelicans to win make money?

No: 26.59 units lost over 81 priced games in 2025-26, and no team lost more.

Do the Pelicans cover at home?

Often: 25 of 41 home games in 2025-26, 61.0%, third-best in the league with Portland.

What happened when the Pelicans were favored?

13-4 straight up and 13 covers in 17 games, 76.5%.

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