New Orleans Pelicans vs Brooklyn Nets Prediction: Depleted Pels run into an amped up Nets

The NBA midseason is at the helm now and we have now approached a window where we have a ton of injuries. Trades are also going to stack up as teams look to shore up each position or look to build long-term with draft picks or through enticing talent. Anyway, in this game, two of the teams New Orleans Pelicans and the Brooklyn Nets will meet here 

The Pels come into this game after defeating the Rockets 119:108 as CJ McCollum piled up 28 points and six assists. Now the offense is going to run through CJ for most parts considering how the team’s top talent Zion Williamson and their second-best scorer Brandon Ingram are both out. Ingram has been out for more than six weeks while Zion got injured recently. Thanks to the elite play of Zion, the Pelicans have banked on 24 wins and have 14 losses. However, their record can take a big hit without Zion and with Brandon’s return still days away. After this game at home against Brookly, they will have to embark on a five-game road trip, which is coming at the worst time possible.

The Nets come into this affair after a rare loss as they took a 112:121 beating against the Chicago Bulls despite a 44 points outburst by Kevin Durant. This loss broke an impressive 12-game winning streak and the Nets have won 16 out of their last 19 games. As a result, Nets have now won 25 and lost just 13 games to recover from a horrid start. The major component during this winning run has been the availability of Kyrie Irving who alongside Kevin Durant forms one of the best scoring duos in the history of the game. This incredible record means that the Nets have now developed something more substantial under coach Jacque Vaughn but there are holes in the lineup.

• Pelicans: OUT: Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, EJ Liddell. QUESTIONABLE: Larry Nance Jr., Willy Hernangomez;
• Nets: QUESTIONABLE: TJ Warren.

• Expected Leading Scorers: Kevin Durant(30-36 Points), Kyrie Irving(26-32 Points), CJ McCollum (26-31 Points);
• Expected Leading Rebounders: Jonas Valanciunas(11-14 Rebounds), Kevin Durant(8-11 Rebounds);
• Expected Leading Playmakers: CJ McCollum(7-9 Assists), Kyrie Irving(5-7 Assists).

Without Ingram and Zion, the Pels will need Valanciunas and McCollum to up their scoring average by 8-10 points at this juncture. Their match-up against the Nets has arrived at the worst time, considering that there is a five-game away-from-home trip. The Pelicans will need to play their best game here but I don’t think Kyrie and Kevin will let this golden opportunity to beat the Pels go away. I predict a scoreline of 119:111 in the favor of Brooklyn.