The Pelicans were the most dominant team in the first round of the NBA playoffs but face the defending champions in Round 2 albeit with two-time MVP winner Stephen Curry’s series status in up in the air for the Warriors. Anthony Davis and Co. look to pull a smash-a-grab in the Bay Area on Saturday and steal Game 1 from a shorthanded Golden State side.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Warriors opened as 7.5-point home favourites for Game 1 on the Sports Interaction NBA board, but moved up to 9-point chalk once word leaked Curry was 50/50 to play. He’s missed the last the last 15 games and 36 total this season. The Warriors are 14-22 against the spread without Curry in the lineup this year.

Golden State went 7-10 straight up (6-11 ATS) in its final 17 regular season games but turned the switch on once the playoffs started. The Dubs took care of the Spurs in five games in the first round and covered the spread in the first three games of the series.

The Pelicans are arguably the hottest team in the Association. They’ve won and covered the spread in nine straight games, including a four-game sweep of the higher-seeded Portland Trail Blazers. New Orleans went 1-3 SU against the Warriors but won 126-120 at Oracle Arena a week before the start of the playoffs.

Nearly 80 percent of Sports Interaction bettors are backing the Pelicans to cover as 9-point road underdogs in this NBA matchup and 77 percent are betting the under on the 225.5-point total.

The Warriors are -2000 favourites to win the series on the NBA futures board, while the Pelicans are paying +700 should they pull off the upset.

New Orleans Pelicans

Anthony Davis is the best player in the playoffs after the first round. He’s the leader in scoring (33 points per game), blocks (2.75) and fourth in rebounding (11.8). The Blazers had no answer trying to guard him in the first round but Draymond Green and Kevin Durant should put up a better fight.

Davis isn’t the only Pelican soaring in the postseason. Rajon Rondo is the leader in assists at 13.3 per night and Jrue Holiday is averaging 27.8 points per game in his first appearance in the playoffs since 2015.

Golden State Warriors

It’s easy to forget about how important Stephen Curry is to the Warriors. Even his head coach, Steve Kerr, told ESPN’s Zach Lowe after winning the championship last year that Kevin Durant was probably a better player than his All-Star point guard. The stats tell us Curry is the

most important part of Warriors’ success. Golden State scored 120.4 points per 100 possessions with Curry on the court and just 106.1 without him. The club owned a +14.7 net rating with Curry and just +2.9 without him.

Injuries

New Orleans

Nikola Mirotic (PF)

Prob Thurs Ankle - 18 / 04 / 18

Ian Clark (SG)

Ques Wed Ankle - 11 / 04 / 18

Rajon Rondo (PG)

Ques Fri Wrist - 24 / 03 / 18

Jrue Holiday (PG)

Prob Thurs Illness - 22 / 03 / 18

Solomon Hill (SF)

Out Wed Rest - 21 / 03 / 18

Cheick Diallo (PF)

day-to-day Knee - 07 / 03 / 18

Emeka Okafor (C)

Prob Tues Ankle - 03 / 03 / 18

Darius Miller (SF)

day-to-day Eye - 12 / 02 / 18

Dante Cunningham (PF)

Prob Sat Acquired - 09 / 02 / 18

Omer Asik (C)

Ques Sat Acquired - 03 / 02 / 18

Golden State

Shaun Livingston (PG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 20 / 04 / 18

JaVale McGee (C)

Prob Thurs Quadricep - 18 / 04 / 18

David West (PF)

Prob Thurs Ankle - 17 / 04 / 18

Andre Iguodala (SF)

Prob Mon Thigh - 15 / 04 / 18

Damian Jones (C)

Prob Tues Foot - 09 / 04 / 18

Nick Young (SG)

Prob Sat Illness - 07 / 04 / 18

Kevon Looney (SF)

Prob Thurs Flu - 02 / 04 / 18

Patrick McCaw (SG)

Early June Back - 01 / 04 / 18

Quinn Cook (PG)

Prob Tues Knee - 27 / 03 / 18

Chris Boucher (SF)

Out indefinitely Ankle - 25 / 03 / 18

Injuries

New Orleans

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Nikola Mirotic (PF)	Prob Thurs	Ankle - 18 / 04 / 18	6-2	4-4	+ -
Mirotic is dealing with an ankle injury but is expected to partake in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Trail Blazers.
Ian Clark (SG)	Ques Wed	Ankle - 11 / 04 / 18	8-2	5-5	+ -
lark is dealing with an ankle injury and it is unknown if he will be available for Wednesday's game against the Spurs.
Rajon Rondo (PG)	Ques Fri	Wrist - 24 / 03 / 18	12-6	9-9	+ -
Rondo missed his second-straight game due to a right wrist sprain and it is unknown if he will suit up Friday against the Cavaliers.
Jrue Holiday (PG)	Prob Thurs	Illness - 22 / 03 / 18	13-6	9-10	+ -
Holiday is expected to take part in Thursday's game against the Lakers despite dealing with an illness.
Solomon Hill (SF)	Out Wed	Rest - 21 / 03 / 18	14-6	10-10	+ -
Hill will be absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Pacers as his team will be playing three games in three nights.
Cheick Diallo (PF)	day-to-day	Knee - 07 / 03 / 18	19-10	14-15	+ -
Diallo exited Wednesday's game due to a knee injury and it is unclear if he will return.
Emeka Okafor (C)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 03 / 03 / 18	20-10	15-15	+ -
Okafor sat out the last game due to a sprained right ankle but is likely to be available for Tuesday's matchup against the Clippers.
Darius Miller (SF)	day-to-day	Eye - 12 / 02 / 18	25-11	20-16	+ -
Miller exited Monday's game due to a laceration under his eye and it is uncertain if he will return.
Dante Cunningham (PF)	Prob Sat	Acquired - 09 / 02 / 18	25-12	20-17	+ -
Cunningham has joined the team via a trade and is expected to be available Saturday against the Pelicans.
Omer Asik (C)	Ques Sat	Acquired - 03 / 02 / 18	26-15	23-18	+ -
Asik is uncertain to play Saturday against the Wizards as he is required to pass a physical before playing with his new team.

Golden State

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Shaun Livingston (PG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 20 / 04 / 18	10-9	7-12	+ -
Livingston is dealing with a left ankle injury but is likely to play against the Spurs in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round.
JaVale McGee (C)	Prob Thurs	Quadricep - 18 / 04 / 18	10-9	7-12	+ -
McGee is nursing a left quadriceps contusion but is likely to play against the Spurs in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round.
David West (PF)	Prob Thurs	Ankle - 17 / 04 / 18	11-9	7-12-1	+ -
West sustained an ankle injury but is likely to be available for Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Spurs.
Andre Iguodala (SF)	Prob Mon	Thigh - 15 / 04 / 18	11-9	7-12-1	+ -
Iguodala is expected to suit up against the Spurs in Game 2 of the Western Conference first round despite a left thigh contusion.
Damian Jones (C)	Prob Tues	Foot - 09 / 04 / 18	12-11	8-14-1	+ -
Jones is expected to suit up Tuesday against the Jazz despite a left mid-foot sprain.
Nick Young (SG)	Prob Sat	Illness - 07 / 04 / 18	12-12	9-14-1	+ -
Young is battling an illness but is expected to be available for Saturday's game against the Pelicans.
Kevon Looney (SF)	Prob Thurs	Flu - 02 / 04 / 18	14-13	10-16-1	+ -
Looney was absent from the lineup during the last game due to flu-like symptoms but is likely to be available against the Pacers on Thursday.
Patrick McCaw (SG)	Early June	Back - 01 / 04 / 18	14-14	11-16-1	+ -
McCaw is sidelined with a lumbosacral bone bruise and is expected to be re-evaluated in four weeks.
Quinn Cook (PG)	Prob Tues	Knee - 27 / 03 / 18	14-16	12-17-1	+ -
Cook is dealing with a left knee contusion but is expected to play in Tuesday's contest against the Pacers.
Chris Boucher (SF)	Out indefinitely	Ankle - 25 / 03 / 18	15-16	12-18-1	+ -
Boucher has been held out of action due to a sprained left ankle and it is unknown how much time he will be forced to miss.

Pelicans vs. Warriors Prediction