New Orleans isn't some pushover 8-seed, if that hasn't become obvious to you yet. This isn't totally about Devin Booker being out. The Pelicans had a top-10 point differential and the league's No. 2 overall offense after the trade deadline. This is a good team that is playing with immense confidence, with two go-to star scorers in Brandon Ingram and C.J. McCollum, and an absolute menace defender in Herb Jones. I don't know if New Orleans can win a decisive Game 5 on the road, but this is too big a line for a team playing this well, with this much confidence and momentum, with Booker still out.

This series has changed completely after the injury to Devin Booker (hamstring). Both teams have now won two games, and the one loss that the Pelicans suffered in New Orleans came by just three points. They dominated the second half of Game 4 on their way to a 15-point victory. They stole Game 2 in Phoenix, so don’t look for them to be overwhelmed playing on the road. I’m not sure they can win this game, but with Booker out, I think they can keep it close enough to cover.