March 6, 2026, 10:38 a.m. ET

The New Orleans Pelicans (20-44) visit the Phoenix Suns (35-27) on Friday. Tip-off from Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona, is at 9 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Pelicans vs. Suns odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Suns lead 3-0

The Pelicans have won 5 of their last 7 games and snapped a 2-game skid on Thursday, beating the Sacramento Kings on the road 133-123 as 7-point favorites with the Over (235.5) cashing. F Zion Williamson shot 10-for-14 from the field, leading the Pels with 23 points and 9 rebounds.

The Suns also played on Thursday, losing 105-103 to the visiting Chicago Bulls as 11.5-point favorites with the Under (224.5) cashing. Despite it being a close game, the Suns never had a lead. G Devin Booker scored 27, but G Jalen Green shot only 5-for-20 from the field and 1-for-8 from 3, scoring 12 points.

The Suns are going for the season-series sweep in this one. In their last meeting, on Dec. 27 in New Orleans, the Suns won 123-114 as 4.5-point favorites with the Under (240.5) cashing. The night before, Phoenix won 115-108 in New Orleans and covered the 5.5-point spread with the Under (241.5) hitting.

Watch the NBA on Fubo!Pelicans at Suns odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:25 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Pelicans +185 (bet $100 to win $185) | suns -225 (bet $225 to win $100)Against the spread (ATS): Pelicans +5.5 (-102) | Suns -5.5 (-118)Over/Under (O/U): 226.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)Pelicans at Suns key injuries

Pelicans

(Not yet submitted — below was for Thursday’s game)

G Dejounte Murray (reconditioning) out

Suns

(Not yet submitted — below was for Thursday’s game)

G Jordan Goodwin (calf) outF Dillon Brooks (hand) outC Mark Williams (foot) out

For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.

Pelicans at Suns picks and predictionsPrediction

Suns 121, Pelicans 110

Though the Pelicans are 9-23 on the road this season compared to the Suns’ 20-13 home mark, New Orleans has won 3 of 5 on its 6-game road trip so far (albeit against teams well under .500).

Playing on no rest, the Suns are only 4-6, but the Pelicans are worse at 3-8, per Teamrankings.com. The Suns are 23-15 when playing on equal rest as their opponent, while New Orleans is 9-29 in such scenarios.

Expect the Suns to get the win, but you get better value betting the spread for either team than the Suns ML.

PASS.

You can pretty much count on a Suns cover when they win outright. They are 31-2-2 ATS in their straight-up wins this season. They have beaten the Pelicans by 7 or more in all 3 previous meetings this season, and in their 7 wins over the Pelicans in their last 10 meetings, the Suns have covered the spread in all of them.

The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in their last 7 outright losses.

BET SUNS -5.5 (-118).

The Under has cashed in the Suns’ last 5 games. They have not gone more than 5 games in a row without the Over hitting this season.

The Pelicans have allowed 123 or more in 2 of their last 3 games.

BET OVER 226.5 (-110).

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