Betting tips from AI for New Orleans Pelicans vs Brooklyn Nets, 15 January 2026.

I’m siding with the Brooklyn Nets at 1.80.
The DRatings projection and recent analytical models give Brooklyn the slimmest edge, and New Orleans is hamstrung by the absences of Jose Alvarado and Herbert Jones with Saddiq Bey questionable. Those misses hollow out the Pelicans defensively and put more offensive burden on a struggling supporting cast, while the Nets should get Egor Demin probable and Cam Thomas likely, shoring up depth.
With both teams slumping, roster availability and the tight 115-113 projection tilt value to Brooklyn. A $1 wager on the Nets at 1.80 is the smarter, risk-adjusted play over taking the Pelicans at 2.11.

This basement battle between the Pelicans and Nets presents a fascinating betting conundrum. While AI models lean towards a New Orleans home win with a 52% probability, projecting a 115-108 score, bookmakers see the Brooklyn Nets as slight favorites at 1.80, with the Pelicans at 2.11. DRatings experts echo this, forecasting a tight 115-113 Nets victory.

Both teams are in a dismal slump, mired in the league's basement. However, the critical factor here is the Pelicans' dire injury situation. Key players Jose Alvarado and Herbert Jones are out, and Saddiq Bey is questionable, leaving New Orleans truly crippled. The Nets, despite their own four-game skid, look relatively healthier with Cam Thomas likely to play. The Pelicans' depleted roster will struggle to contain a Nets team desperate to break their losing streak. The collective wisdom of the bookmakers and DRatings, coupled with the injury disparity, points to a tough night for the home side.

This basement battle features two struggling teams, but the Nets appear to have a slight edge despite their four-game losing streak. Brooklyn's 1.80 odds reflect their better overall position (11-25 vs Pelicans' 9-32) and the significant injury problems plaguing New Orleans. With Alvarado and Jones confirmed out and Bey questionable, the Pelicans' already thin roster is severely compromised.

While AI models give the Pelicans a slight home advantage (52%), the DRatings projection of a tight Nets win (115-113) aligns better with current team conditions. Brooklyn's recent losses have been competitive (one-point heartbreaker to Orlando), suggesting they're due for a breakthrough.

The Pelicans' 2.11 odds offer decent value, but their injury situation combined with the Nets likely having Cam Thomas available tilts this matchup toward Brooklyn. Expect the Nets to snap their losing streak in a close, high-scoring affair at Smoothie King Center.

In a clash of NBA bottom-feeders, the New Orleans Pelicans host the Brooklyn Nets at Smoothie King Center, both desperate to snap ugly skids. The Pelicans, limping in at 9-32 after losses to the Magic and Lakers, are battered by absences—Jose Alvarado and Herbert Jones out, Saddiq Bey questionable—leaving their defense vulnerable. Yet, home-court energy and sharper shooting could tip the scales, as AI models peg a Pelicans win at 52% probability in a projected 115-108 thriller.

The Nets, sitting at 11-25 on a brutal four-game losing streak—including heartbreaks like 105-113 to Dallas and 104-103 to Orlando—bring a slight edge per DRatings' 115-113 projection. With Egor Demin probable and Cam Thomas likely playing, despite Ziaire Williams' iffy status, Brooklyn's grit shines in tight spots. But their road woes amplify the risk.

Odds favor the Nets at 1.80, implying a coin-flip affair, while Pelicans sit at 2.11 for value hunters. This smells like a low-scoring grinder, but the Pelicans' home desperation edges them to victory—bet the underdog for profit in this basement brawl.

The Pelicans host the Nets in a clash of struggling squads, but New Orleans presents betting value as home underdogs at 2.11. Brooklyn is favored at 1.80 despite a four-game skid, including heartbreakers to Dallas and Orlando.

AI models lean towards a Pelicans win with a 52% probability, and an analyst projects a 115-108 victory thanks to sharper shooting. Injuries plague New Orleans with Jose Alvarado and Herbert Jones out, but the Nets' own roster concerns and recent form level the playing field.

With both teams mired in the basement, the Pelicans' home advantage and the attractive odds make them a profitable pick.

This matchup between the New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets presents an intriguing clash of two struggling teams desperate to turn their seasons around. The Pelicans, despite sitting at a dismal 9-32, have home-court advantage and are projected by AI models to win with a 52% probability. Their sharper shooting has been highlighted as a potential edge, though injuries to key players like Jose Alvarado and Herbert Jones could limit their effectiveness. Saddiq Bey’s questionable status further complicates matters for New Orleans.

On the other side, the Nets limp in on a four-game losing streak, including narrow defeats against Dallas and Orlando. At 11-25, they’re slightly better than the Pelicans but appear mentally fragile. Egor Demin is probable, and Cam Thomas’ likely availability adds some firepower, yet their recent performances suggest they’re prone to late-game collapses. DRatings experts project a tight contest favoring Brooklyn 115-113, but this prediction doesn’t fully account for the Pelicans' ability to exploit defensive lapses.

The betting odds tell an interesting story. The Nets are slight favorites at 1.80, requiring a $125 bet to win $100, while the Pelicans sit at 2.11, offering a stronger return on investment. Given the Nets’ struggles and the Pelicans’ home-court edge—even amidst their own woes—the value lies with New Orleans. A close game is expected, but the Pelicans’ statistical advantage and motivation make them the smarter pick.

Ultimately, the Pelicans’ resilience at Smoothie King Center combined with Brooklyn's ongoing skid tips the scales. Betting on New Orleans at 2.11 offers both value and a realistic path to victory.