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Pelicans vs. Wizards prediction: Why New Orleans is favored to win Friday's NBA matchup [1/9/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Dave Garofolo, Content Producer
Get New Orleans Pelicans vs Washington Wizards predictions for NBA Friday.
The Washington Wizards and New Orleans Pelicans will meet in NBA action at Capital One Arena on Friday, with tipoff at 7:00 PM ET.
Based on updated simulation results and today’s injury news, Dimers' advanced NBA model projects the Pelicans as the most likely winner of the Pelicans vs. Wizards game.
This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Wizards lineup will feature stars like Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson and Kyshawn George, while the Pelicans will look to Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy and Jordan Poole.
This article offers an expanded analysis of Friday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.
Pelicans vs. Wizards prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using innovative machine learning and data, we have simulated the result of Friday's NBA game between the Pelicans and Wizards 10,000 times as part of our NBA predictions coverage.
Our leading predictive model currently gives the Pelicans a 61% chance of beating the Wizards. Our predicted final score has the Pelicans winning 121-117.
According to our model, the Pelicans (-3.5) have a 51% chance of covering the spread, while the 243.5-point over/under has a 58% chance of staying under.
Pelicans vs. Wizards odds
We have researched the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Pelicans | Wizards |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | -3.5 (-102) | +3.5 (-115) |
| Moneyline | -146 | +125 |
| Total | o243.5 (-110) | u243.5 (-110) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Pelicans vs. Wizards picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Pelicans -3.5 | -102 |
| Moneyline | Pelicans | -146 |
| Total | Under 243.5 | -110 |
According to our best NBA bets for Friday, the top play to make on this game is Under 243.5 total points.
Pelicans vs. Wizards player props
Looking for New Orleans vs. Washington NBA player props? We use the best information available to project how each team's leading players will perform at Capital One Arena.
Zion Williamson is expected to lead the Pelicans with 27 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, while Alex Sarr is projected to have 19 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists for the Wizards.
Check out our NBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and today's NBA first basket picks.
Pelicans prediction
Our model's projected player stats for the Pelicans are:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM | DFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zion Williamson | 27 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 49 |
| Trey Murphy | 24 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 45 |
| Jordan Poole | 19 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 34 |
| Derik Queen | 15 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 39 |
| Jeremiah Fears | 14 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 28 |
Wizards prediction
Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Wizards:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM | DFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Sarr | 19 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 41 |
| Tre Johnson | 16 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 28 |
| Kyshawn George | 13 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 32 |
| Bilal Coulibaly | 13 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 29 |
| Bub Carrington | 12 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 31 |
Pelicans vs. Wizards game-day updates and essential details
Friday's action between the Wizards and Pelicans at Capital One Arena is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM ET.
- Who: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Washington Wizards
- Date: Friday, January 9, 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00PM PT
- Venue: Capital One Arena
Conclusion
We predict the Pelicans, with a 61% win probability, will likely beat the Wizards on Friday, with Zion Williamson projected for a game-high 49 fantasy points.
AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Pelicans vs. Wizards insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are based on up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Dave Garofolo uses sophisticated AI-driven analytics to make predictions and evaluate player performances in the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, NCAAM, and PGA TOUR tournaments, crafting insightful game and prop previews.
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