New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Preview
The Thunder are just one win away from moving on to the second round of the playoffs as they lead the Pelicans 3-0. Game four of this first-round Western Conference matchup is being played at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Tip-off is at 8:30 PM ET and NBA TV is carrying the game on TV. The Thunder are the favorites and are -4.5 on the point spread and -193 on the money line. The Pelicans are +158, and the over/under line is 204.5 points.
Check out BetCoco for New Orleans Pelicans – Oklahoma City Thunder odds
New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Head-to-Head and Key Stats
In the last three games between New Orleans and Oklahoma City, the Thunder have dominated the series, going 3-0. This includes a convincing margin of victory of 19 points per contest. Across the last three head-to-head matchups, Oklahoma City is averaging 108 points compared to New Orleans at 89.
- Through their last three road contests, the Thunder offense has averaged 113 points per game while allowing an average of 109. Oklahoma City posted an overall record of 2-1 while going 1-2 ATS.
- Across their last five home contests, New Orleans has been good against the spread posting a mark of 3-2. Their overall mark in these games was 3-2, while averaging 108 points per game.
- The last three games that New Orleans was the underdog, they have an ATS mark of 1-2 while going 0-3 straight up.
- Oklahoma City has done well both straight up and vs the spread when favored to win the game, going 3-0 SU and 3-0 ATS in their last three games.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction
The Thunder picked up a 21-point win over the Pelicans in the most recent game of this series, as they won by a score of 106-85. Oklahoma City’s defense was excellent in this game, holding the Pelicans to just 38.1% shooting from the field and 9 made threes. The Thunder were able to cover the spread in this game, as they were 1.5-point favorites heading into the game. The game also fell 20 points short of the over/under line of 211 points.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 24 points, and he also added 8 assists and 5 rebounds. Josh Giddey was the Thunder’s second-leading scorer with 21 points, and he knocked down 4 threes. Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 19 points.
The Thunder are 49-36 ATS this season and have covered the spread in two straight games. On the road, their ATS record is 21-21.
Oklahoma City is favored by 4.5 points today and has gone 37-27 ATS as the favorite. As the favorite, they are 50-14 straight-up and have won nine straight games as the favorite.
This season, the Thunder are 45-39-1 on the O/U and their games have averaged a combined 231.5 points. Today’s O/U line is 204.5 and 85 of their games have had higher O/U lines.
In their last game against the Pelicans, the Thunder won 106-85. The O/U line for that game was 211 points. OKC covered the spread as 1.5-point favorites.
Oklahoma City is currently in 1st place in the Western Conference with a record of 57-25. Against other Western Conference teams, they are 36-16 and 21-9 in non-conference games.
On the road, the Thunder have a straight-up record of 25-17 and have won their last two road games. Their average scoring differential on the road is +2.3 points per game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 24.6 points per game over his last five games while hitting 46.3% of his shots from the field. In these games, he also averaged 5.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds. On the season, he is averaging 30.1 points, 6.2 assists, and 5.5 rebounds. Chet Holmgren has averaged 16.4 points and 8.8 rebounds in his last five games and 16.5 points and 7.9 rebounds for the season.
Oklahoma City leads the NBA in three-point shooting percentage this season, at 38%. They are also near the top of the league in scoring, at 120.1 points per game. For the season, they are 7th in made threes, averaging 13.3 made threes per game.
On the season, the Thunder are giving up 111.9 points per game, which is 11th in the NBA. When playing on the road, they are allowing 114.5 points per game, which is 15th in the NBA. Over their last five games, they have been even better on the defensive end, giving up just 92.4 points per game, which is 2nd in the league over that span.
When looking at their field goal percentage allowed, the Thunder are 3rd in the NBA at 45.4%. They have also been great at protecting the rim, ranking 2nd in the league in blocked shots per game at 6.6. However, they have struggled to defend the three-point line this season, ranking 21st in three-point shooting percentage allowed.
On the season, opposing teams have scored less than their season average in 61.0% of games vs. the Thunder. They have also done a good job of keeping opposing teams off the free-throw line, ranking 23rd in made free throws allowed per game.
The Pelicans are looking to snap a three-game losing streak as they take on the Thunder. In their last game, the Pelicans lost to the Thunder by a score of 106-85. The O/U line for that game was 211 points.
As the underdog, the Pelicans have gone 18-17 this season. Today, they are 4.5-point underdogs and have gone 21-14 ATS as the underdog this season.
In terms of their O/U record, the Pelicans are 38-49 this season. In their games this year, the average combined scoring total is 224.4 points, and the average O/U line is 226.5 points.
In the Western Conference standings, the Pelicans are currently 8th with a record of 49-33. Against other Western Conference teams, they are 30-22 and 9-7 against teams in the Southwest Division.
This year, the Pelicans are 21-22 ATS at home and have an average scoring differential of +2.8 points per game. Their ATS record at home is 21-22, compared to 24-19 on the road.
New Orleans is 16th in scoring this season, at 115.1 points per game. In terms of three-point shooting percentage, the Pelicans are 7th in the league, hitting 38% of their looks from beyond the arc. Despite their efficiency from three, they are just 21st in three-point makes, at 12.5 per game.
Brandon Ingram is averaging 20.8 points per game this year, to go along with 5.7 assists and 5.1 rebounds. Over his last five games, he has hit just 42.5% of his shots from the field for 16.8 points per game. CJ McCollum is averaging 3.6 made threes per game this year but only 1.4 over his last five games. Trey Murphy III has hit 2.6 threes per game in his last five games.
When it comes to defense, the Pelicans have been one of the best in the league this season, allowing just 110.4 points per game, which is 8th best in the NBA. At home, they have been even better, ranking 11th in the league at 111.0 points per game.
So far this season, opponents have scored less than their season average in 67.1% of games vs. New Orleans. When it comes to three-point shooting, opposing teams have made fewer threes than their season average vs. the Pelicans 43.9% of the time.
Overall, New Orleans is 6th in field goal percentage allowed at 46.4%. However, they have struggled to defend the three-point line, ranking 24th in three-point shooting percentage allowed.
Looking at our projections, the Thunder are expected to take down the Pelicans by a score of 117-111.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Tips
- Take the Thunder on the moneyline
- The Thunder should also cover at -4.5
- Projecting a combined 228 points, we like the over
New Orleans Pelicans Injury Report
- Zion Williamson – Hamstring – Out
- Jeremiah Robinson-Earl – Ankle – Questionable
Oklahoma City Thunder Injury Report
No Injuries Reported
