The New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets will meet in an inter-conference matchup in the NBA on Saturday. These are two of the worst teams in the NBA this season, but one of them is required by the rules of the NBA to win this contest. Before tip-off from Barclays Center, find out who I think that team will be as I make my Pelicans vs Nets prediction.
Our Pelicans vs Nets Pick
- Pick: Brooklyn Nets -3.5
- Confidence: ★★☆☆☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: New Orleans Pelicans @ Brooklyn Nets
- Date & Time: Saturday, December 6, 2025, 5:00 PM ET
- Venue: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
- Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Key Storylines
- Both of these teams are off to dreadful starts this season. The Pelicans are 3-20 this season and the Nets are 5-17 for the season. New Orleans has gone 1-9 on the road this year, while Brooklyn is 1-10 in their home games this season. But something has to give in this matchup and this is a great chance for both sides to get a win.
- Injuries are a huge factor in this game on both sides. Cam Thomas and Haywood Highsmith are out for Brooklyn. Herb Jones, Jordan Poole, Zion Williamson, and Dejounte Murray are out for the Pelicans, handicapping what they are able to do offensively as a team.
- The Pelicans have lost five games in a row coming into this contest. Four of those five games were decided by single-digits. But New Orleans has had a hard time getting over the hump and will try to do so here against an opponent that is very much at the same level of competition as them here.
- Brooklyn has won two of its last three games, taking advantage of winnable games against the Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets. They will try to do more of the same in this contest to get a third win in four games.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- This is the first matchup between the Pelicans and Nets this season.
- The Pelicans are 13-9-1 against the spread this season.
- Brooklyn is 10-11-1 against the spread for the year.
- The under has cashed in 13 of Brooklyn's 22 games entering Saturday's play.
- New Orleans has gone 14-9 to the over on the year.
Best Player Props to Watch
Player | Prop to Watch |
|---|
Michael Porter Jr. | Over 25.5 Points |
Jeremiah Fears | Under 16.5 Points |
Pelicans vs Nets Model Projection
Score Projection: New Orleans 110 – Brooklyn 117
Win Probability: New Orleans 39%, Brooklyn 61%
Final Thoughts
It is hard to feel confident in either of these teams with the way they have played so far this season. But somebody has to win this game and I think it will be Brooklyn. They have at least shown some faint signs of life lately, and they are on their home floor here. This game won't be pretty on either side, but I'll lay the points with the Nets on Saturday evening.
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