Pelicans vs Clippers Props – Best Player Prop Bets on January 13th

• The New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Clippers matchup January 13th on ESPN
• New Orleans is without Lonzo Ball and potentially Eric Bledsoe
• Get the latest player props for Wednesday’s game and picks below

The New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Clippers play in the headline game of January 13th’s NBA schedule. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George take on Zion Williamson’s Pelicans for the first time this season – the Pels are looking to break a three-game losing streak, while the Clips are aiming to win consecutive games for the first time since December 30th.

Lonzo Ball is out with a knee problem, Eric Bledsoe is questionable and JJ Redick is probable. Stan Van Gundy’s backcourt options are limited – Ty Lue has no such issues with Leonard and George set to play. Ivica Zubac is the only rotation player featuring on the injury report.

The Clippers are 6.5-point favorites as they look to move to 8-4.

Pelicans vs Clippers Player Props and Odds

Odds taken on Jan 13 from FanDuel

PG From Deep

Opponents are taking 48% of their shots from beyond the arc against the Pelicans. Stan Van Gundy has built a defense around rim protection and allowing average shooters to take long-range attempts. Paul George doesn’t fall into that category, of course, but the Pelicans’ willingness to give up three-point shots will surely work in George’s favor. The former Indiana Pacer is shooting 51.2% from deep this season on over eight attempts – only CJ McCollum is averaging more three-point makes per game.

The absence of Lonzo Ball, and with Eric Bledsoe possibly sitting out, should make George’s life easier. Josh Hart is a good defender, though he’s not at the standard of Bledsoe or Ball. Brandon Ingram has the length to contest perimeter shots, but he is going to spend plenty of time guarding Kawhi Leonard.

George has made five threes in each of his last two games. He’s only made under 3.5 in two of the eight games he’s played so far this season.

Paul George’s last 5 games:

28 PTS – 7 REB – 9 AST
25 PTS – 4 REB – 7 AST
21 PTS – 12 REB – 2 AST
39 PTS – 3 REB – 4 AST
25 PTS – 8 REB – 4 AST pic.twitter.com/shsRHDT157

— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) January 10, 2021

New Orleans is 11th in opponent three-point percentage. Teams aren’t shooting well from the corners, but non-corner threes are falling at a good rate. We’re still dealing with small sample sizes, but that should work in George’s favor, too – over 20% of his shots are non-corner threes.

This bet stood out among all the player props in Wednesday’s games. All the evidence points to George cruising past 3.5 threes.

• Pick: Paul George over 3.5 threes (-142)

Ingram Makes Plays

Averaging a career-high in assists at 5.8 and turning it over less than last season (2.7 per game from 3), Brandon Ingram continues to improve as a playmaker. He’s going to have to do a lot of it if Eric Bledsoe isn’t available. Ingram has gone over 5.5 assists in five of his nine games thus far. In the loss to Charlotte last time out, he registered eight assists even with Bledsoe and Ball playing.

Staying ready 👊 @RealStevenAdams x @B_Ingram13 pic.twitter.com/d23lUBONOc

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) January 12, 2021

Ingram is 22nd in assist rate so far this season. That’s above Mike Conley, Kyle Lowry and D’Angelo Russell. He’s averaging roughly the same number of touches as last season, but he’s dribbling the ball more (up to three dribbles per touch from 2.52 in 2019-20). More of the offense is going through Ingram even with Ball and Bledsoe – he could be the lead ball handler on Wednesday if Josh Hart and Redick start in the backcourt.

Guarded by either Paul George or Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers will force Ingram to be a playmaker. With the shooting of Redick and Hart and the finishing of Zion Williamson, Ingram has enough offensive firepower around him to pick up assists. He’ll be looking for lobs to Zion – the Ingram/Williamson pick-and-roll game will have to be a staple of the offense.

New Orleans has enough offense for Ingram’s playmaking to return assists. He’s developed as a passer, and his assist numbers are showing it.

• Pick: Brandon Ingram over 5.5 assists (-114)