Washington Wizards vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction – March 08, 2026

Washington heads to New Orleans with both teams sitting 13th in their conferences, but the market is pricing this like a mismatch: Pelicans -10.5 and -450 on the moneyline.

The total (242.5) is the biggest decision point. Both defenses have struggled all season, but this number is still well above what either team has produced on average over the last 10 games.

Washington is also dealing with a lengthy injury report, while New Orleans shows no key rotation players listed as out on the latest league injury report this morning.

Odds & Game Info

Odds from Bookmaker.eu as of 9:11 a.m. ET on March 8, 2026.

Injury updates (latest league report, 8:30 a.m. ET)

• Wizards: Anthony Davis (out, left finger sprain), Kyshawn George (out, left elbow sprain), D’Angelo Russell (out, not with team), Tristan Vukcevic (out, left thigh contusion), Jamir Watkins (out, left ankle/foot sprain), Cam Whitmore (out, right shoulder deep vein thrombosis).
• Pelicans: No listed NBA rotation players out (only G League/two-way designations: Trey Alexander, Hunter Dickinson, Josh Oduro).

Team Snapshot

Here’s how each team stacks up entering tonight.

Recent Form

Washington Wizards

Washington is 2-8 in its last 10, with a 0-5 run in its last five games. Over the last 10, the Wizards are scoring 112.6 points per game and allowing 124.0, which is why they’ve needed outlier shooting nights to win.

The Wizards also enter with a short-handed rotation. With multiple ball-handlers and frontcourt pieces out, it is harder to sustain efficient offense for four quarters, especially on the road.

New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans is 5-5 over its last 10 and has played higher-scoring games recently (7 overs in the last 10). In that 10-game sample, the Pelicans are scoring 117.9 points per game and allowing 119.3, with an average combined total of 237.2.

This is also a rest and travel reset spot. The Pelicans last played Friday on the road, then return home here, while Washington last played Thursday and travels into New Orleans.

Matchup Keys

• Second-chance pressure: New Orleans ranks well in offensive rebounding rate (31.5%), and Washington is last in opponent offensive rebounding rate allowed (33.5%). Extra possessions are the cleanest path to New Orleans separating.
• Why the total is inflated: both teams’ last-10 average combined totals sit in the 236 to 237 range, but the line is 242.5. The over can still get there, but it requires above-baseline efficiency rather than just pace.
• Defense quality on both sides: Washington (120.3 DRtg) and New Orleans (117.8 DRtg) both live in the bottom tier defensively, so shot-making swings matter more than usual. If either team is cold from three, the under benefits immediately.
• Washington’s injury math: multiple Wizards outs reduce lineup continuity and limit the paths to a full 48 minutes of offense, which matters with a total this high.

Betting Trends

• Wizards are 5-24 on the road.
• Pelicans are 11-21 at home.
• Wizards are 26-36 ATS this season.
• Pelicans are 36-29 ATS this season.
• Wizards are 2-8 straight up over their last 10 games.
• Pelicans are 5-5 straight up over their last 10 games.
• Wizards have gone over the total in 6 of their last 10 games.
• Pelicans have gone over the total in 7 of their last 10 games.
• Last meeting: Pelicans won 128-107 at Washington on January 9, 2026, and the game finished under 243.5.

Best Bet

Under 242.5 (-108).

The defenses are bad, but 242.5 is still asking for a near-perfect scoring environment. Over the last 10 games, both teams are averaging combined totals in the high 230s, not the mid 240s, and Washington’s current injury list makes it tougher to project clean offense for four quarters. If New Orleans controls the game as the spread suggests, a fourth-quarter pace drop also becomes more likely, which is a real under helper at this number.

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