NBA Betting – Injuries Take Center Stage in Suns-Pelicans Game

The Phoenix Suns have some injury problems, but they just can’t afford to feel sorry for themselves right now because they are on the verge of falling out of the Western Conference playoff queue. On Friday night they will play host to another team that has injury issues, the New Orleans Pelicans, in NBA betting

The Suns have lost three games in a row, but they are still the best team in the league against the basketball pointspread, with a mark of 36-20. Their straight-up record is 33-24, which would put them in great shape in the East but has them holding onto the 8th spot in the West by their fingernails, just a half-game ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies.

In the NBA betting lines that have been posted on this game by the people at BetAnySports, the Suns are laying some points:

NBA betting lines Courtesy Of BetAnySports

Phoenix Suns -7
New Orleans Pelicans +7

Over 201 points -110

Under 201 points -110

The story in this game involves who is hurt on either side. For the Suns, they may be without leading scorer Goran Dragic, who is doubtful with a sprained ankle. Dragic, who served an apprenticeship in the NBA when he backed up Steve Nash for the Suns, has blossomed into an All-Star caliber player and is averaging 20 points a game. He was half of the winning duo in the backcourt for Phoenix as Jeff Hornacek elected to go with two point guard types to make his team more difficult to defend, and then when Eric Bledsoe went down with a knee injury, Dragic took on more and more of the load.

Now, Gerald Green, the extremely athletic swingman, who has also blossomed late as a player, will be looked upon to handle more of the scoring responsibility, and that is something NBA bettors have to consider a factor. Green is 6’8″ and has tremendous leaping ability (former NBA Slam Dunk champion), so he can create big matchup difficulty. And he will essentially be working against Eric Gordon, who is at least four inches shorter.

Gordon will be called upon more on the offensive end for the Pelicans because, well, there really isn’t anyone else. They Jrue Holiday has been out for a while, as has Ryan Anderson. And now Anthony Davis, the big forward who has averaged just over 20 points and ten rebounds, is listed as doubtful with a shoulder injury. Davis is also the league leader in blocked shots, so his absence is felt on a few different levels, and as BetAnySports customers are well aware, the Pelicans don’t have the depth to make up for it.