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Charlie Grant
Warriors vs. Pelicans: Game 4 Prediction, NBA Playoff Odds
The New Orleans Pelicans cut the Golden State Warriors’ series lead in half by winning on Friday night and look to even the score with another victory on their home floor Sunday afternoon.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Pelicans improved to 5-2 straight up and 6-1 against the spread in these playoffs after taking Game 3 by a 19-point margin. New Orleans is on a 25-10 ATS run during its last 35 games overall and is 5-0 ATS in its last five home games.
Golden State is still 6-2 straight up in the playoffs but just 1-4 ATS in its last five games, and 3-13 ATS in its last 16 spots playing on one day’s rest. Game 3’s closing Over/Under line (232.5) was the highest in NBA playoffs over the last 12 years. Game 4’s total opened one point lower at 231.5 after Game 3 fell 14 points short of hitting the over.
About 80 percent of Sports Interaction bettors are backing the Warriors to cover as 5.5-point away favourites while 67 percent expect the game to go over the 231.5-point total.
The Dubs are still huge chalk to win the series despite leading just a 2-1 series lead. The defending champions are -10,000 faves to move on to the Western Conference finals while the Pelicans are paying +1500 to pull off the upset.
Golden State Warriors
The Big Three of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant shot a collective 38.9 percent (23 for 59) in Game 3. Head coach Steve Kerr will need more from his chief offensive threats to come away from the Big Easy with a win. Kerr made a costly error of his own in Game 3. He decided to start JaVale McGee and the Warriors were outscored by 10 points in his nine minutes on the floor.
Golden State sent video to the league office about a questionable play where Rajon Rondo appeared to stick his foot underneath Curry as the Warriors point guard was landing from a jump shot. Curry didn’t land on Rondo’s foot but the tactic is the same one San Antonio fans saw Golden State big man Zaza Pachullia use against Kawhi Leonard in last year’s playoffs.
New Orleans Pelicans
Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday and Rajon Rondo all put up big numbers for the Pelicans in Game 3, but the contributions of bench mates Ian Clark and Soloman Hill can’t be underestimated. The pair shot a collective 6-for-11 on 3s and combined for 27 points.
