Cleveland Cavaliers vs New Orleans Pelicans Picks and Predictions for Saturday March 21 2026

By: Kim Smith Published 03/21/2026, 01:05 AM ET

The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana to take on the New Orleans Pelicans with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 PM and coverage on FanDuel SN OH. At the time of this writing, the Cavaliers are listed as -205 favorites while the Pelicans come in at +170, with the total set at 233.5 and Cleveland favored by 5.5 points. Be sure to check out our free NBA picks for more expert daily predictions and betting insights.

Cavaliers Finding Their Groove on the Road

Cleveland enters this matchup with a 43-27 overall record and a solid 21-14 record on the road. The Cavaliers have been playing well recently, as they have recently won over Chicago, recently won over Milwaukee, recently lost to Dallas, recently won over Dallas, and recently lost to Orlando. That stretch shows a team capable of competing at a high level, even against strong opponents.

From a statistical standpoint, Cleveland is averaging 119.1 points per game while allowing 114.8 points per game. They are shooting 48% from the field and pulling down 44.4 rebounds per game while also averaging an impressive 28.3 assists per game. Defensively, they contribute 5.2 blocks and 8.7 steals per game.

One of the key strengths for Cleveland is their offensive efficiency and ball movement. Averaging over 28 assists per game shows how well they share the ball and create scoring opportunities. This balanced offensive attack makes them difficult to defend, especially when they are playing at a high tempo.

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Pelicans Gaining Momentum at Home

New Orleans comes into this contest with a 25-46 overall record and a 16-21 record at home. The Pelicans have been playing some of their best basketball recently, as they have recently won over the Clippers, recently won over the Clippers again, recently won over Dallas, recently lost to Houston, and recently won over Toronto. Their recent stretch suggests a team gaining confidence despite their overall record.

Offensively, New Orleans is averaging 115.6 points per game while allowing 119.3 points per game. They are shooting 47% from the field and grabbing 44.1 rebounds per game while averaging 25.2 assists. Defensively, they contribute 5.1 blocks and 8.9 steals per game.

A major concern for the Pelicans remains their defense, as they are allowing over 119 points per game. While their offense has been productive, their inability to consistently get stops can make it difficult to hold leads or stay competitive against higher-level teams like Cleveland.

Cavaliers vs Pelicans Pick

Cleveland Cavaliers vs New Orleans Pelicans Pick

Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers -5.5

Cleveland has been the more consistent and complete team, particularly on offense where they excel in ball movement and scoring efficiency. While New Orleans has shown improvement recently, their defensive struggles are a major concern against a Cavaliers team that can score at a high level. I expect Cleveland to control the pace and cover the spread.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs New Orleans Pelicans Total Pick

Pick: Over 233.5

I’m going with the over in this matchup because both teams have shown the ability to score, and New Orleans’ defensive issues tend to lead to higher-scoring games. Cleveland’s offensive efficiency combined with the Pelicans’ pace makes this a game that could easily surpass the total.

Final Score Prediction: Cleveland Cavaliers 122, New Orleans Pelicans 115

This prediction was written before the completion of game play on Friday.