Saturday night, the Philadelphia 76ers will take on the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Philadelphia comes into this game trying to stop a losing streak and get back on track in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, while the Pelicans have struggled all season and will be looking to play spoiler on the second leg of a back-to-back. Here, I break down this contest in the NBA and bring you my 76ers vs Pelicans prediction.
Our Philadelphia 76ers vs New Orleans Pelicans Pick
Pick: 76ers -4.5 ATS PRO
Confidence: 3 out of 5
Game Snapshot
Matchup: Philadelphia 76ers @ New Orleans Pelicans
Date & Time: Saturday, February 21, 2026, 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Key Storylines
Philadelphia enters this game riding a three-game losing streak and facing questions about how to score consistently without star big man Joel Embiid, who is out due to a lower leg injury. Embiid is expected to be back for Sunday's game, but that won't help the Sixers right now.
The Pelicans have been one of the weaker teams in the league this season, with a sub-20 win total at 15-42 on the year. The Pels lost their first game out of the All-Star break to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday and will attempt to bounce back here.
Key Players
Philadelphia 76ers
Tyrese Maxey – Philadelphia’s go-to scorer this season, averaging close to 29 points, while also leading the team in assists. With Embiid out, he will be relied on heavily to create offense and get his teammates involved.
VJ Edgecombe – The rookie guard has stepped up in recent games with solid scoring and rebounding contributions. His ability to fill the stat sheet will be important in this matchup.
Andre Drummond – Starting in place of Embiid, Drummond brings energy and rebounding with averages near double figures on the boards. He will have to control the glass against New Orleans’ front line.
New Orleans Pelicans
Zion Williamson – The Pelicans’ primary scoring threat showed out in the recent loss to Milwaukee with 32 points. His presence at the rim gives New Orleans a chance to keep this game competitive.
Saddiq Bey – The Villanova alum provides scoring for the Pelicans and his shot-making will be essential if the home team wants to keep pace.
Herbert Jones – Though struggling with his outside shooting recently, he still brings defensive effort and versatility and could be key to slowing Maxey and Philadelphia’s backcourt.
Stat Comparison
Stat
76ers
Pelicans
Points per game
116.0
114.6
Points allowed per game
115.9
120.7
Team Field Goal %
46%
46%
Rebounds Per Game
43.3
43.5
Assists Per Game
24.6
25.0
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
The teams met earlier this season with the 76ers winning by a double-figure margin and leading the season series 1-0.
New Orleans is 30-26-1 against the spread this season.
The 76ers are 30-25 against the spread going into this matchup.
76ers vs Pelicans Model Projection
Score Projection: 76ers 115 – Pelicans 108 ATS PRO
Win Probability: 76ers 63%, Pelicans 37% ATS PRO
Final Thoughts
While Philadelphia has struggled of late and will be without one of its best players, the talent gap and efficiency edge are still in Philly's favor. The Pelicans can score in bunches, but have had trouble defending consistently, which should allow the 76ers to pull away late. I am going to lay the points with Philly in this contest from the Crescent City during the weekend after Mardi Gras.
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