NBA Betting Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. New Orleans Pelicans Odds

The San Antonio Spurs (51-9) clinched a playoff spot with a 97-81 rout of the Detroit Pistons while covering the number as 11-point home favorites in the first game of a back-to-back situation Wednesday.

The Spurs visit the New Orleans Pelicans (23-36) on Thursday looking to win for the 17th straight time in the second game of a back-to-back, going 12-4 against the spread in their previous 16 in that scenario.

The big question: Will San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich rest some of his key players in this spot or let them all play against the Pelicans? Oddsmakers at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark obviously like to find out Popovich’s plans before setting lines on the team's games when playing back-to-back nights.

Regardless, the Spurs bring a six-game winning streak into this Southwest Division matchup at New Orleans, beating the spread in the last four. Point guard Tony Parker and power forward Tim Duncan both played less than 30 minutes against the Pistons.

However, forwards LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard played 35 and 36 minutes, respectively, combining for 50 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists in the victory.

The Pelicans have dropped three of their last four games after winning four of five. They too will be playing back-to-back nights following a 100-95 loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday as six-point road underdogs at the sportsbooks.

New Orleans has gone 3-2 ATS in its previous five games overall and 4-2 ATS the last six times the team has played the second game of a back-to-back, failing to cover the spread in the last two.

Unlike San Antonio, the Pelicans did not have the luxury of resting starters late in the game Wednesday, as leading scorer and rebounder Anthony Davis totaled 12 points and eight rebounds in a team-high 39 minutes.

The Spurs have struggled in the series with New Orleans recently, going 2-4 straight up and 1-5 ATS in the past six meetings, according to the Odds Shark NBA Database. The teams have split two games this season, with each winning and covering at home.

The Pelicans upset San Antonio 104-90 as 7.5-point home underdogs November 20.