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Edgar Chaput
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. New Orleans Pelicans Prediction, NBA Odds
New Orleans finds itself in a familiar spot as it had to survive the play-in tournament last season in order to face the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs. As for OKC, this is all new to the current generation of stars. The season was a little topsy-turvy, but they were able to win just enough games to make it this far.
The NBA odds deem the Pelicans as -5.0 favourites for this all-important contest. The total is set at 228.0
Thunder vs. Pelicans NBA Betting Odds
There are several reasons why this could be the most intriguing of the play-in quartet. For one, the teams know each other well, having played four times this season. At first glance one may be tempted to argue that New Orleans has a clear advantage, having captured three of those games.
Closer inspection reveals that none was decided by more than four points, and two by only three points. Furthermore, OKC won the most recent, so they eventually learned how to get over the hump against the Pelicans. The biggest factor is, of course, Zion Williamson’s continued absence due to injury. The latest news is that the most hopeful timetable would be at some point in the first round of the playoffs, but that’s ambitious.
The 40-42 Thunder are this year’s new kids on the block, along with the Sacramento Kings. They’d have preferred finishing ninth, which would have provided them with a home setting for this date. They only went 16-25 on the road this season. Oklahoma City didn’t exactly finish strong either, going 4-6 in its final 10 bouts. Things were even worse against the spread, with a 2-8 record over that span. If anything helps them, it will be their fifth-ranked attack, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Consistency eluded New Orleans all this season. Then again, how much can realistically be expected from a club that’s perpetually promised dividends from Zion and they almost never materialize? They did make a nice push a few weeks ago that saw them win seven of eight, essentially the reason they’re in this position at all. It can therefore be argued that they head into this tilt with more wind in their sails.
Oklahoma City Thunder
In yet another Sunday season closer that didn’t mean much, the Thunder’s backups played host to those of the Memphis Grizzlies.
It was OKC’s lesser-known players who got the better of Memphis’. Jared Butler, Tre Mann, Olivier Sarr, and Ousmane Dieng all had over 20 points, with Butler’s 25 leading the way – Mann had a triple-double. There was no Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, or Josh Giddey to be seen on Sunday, nor the Williams duo. Reports say that Dortz was nursing his right shoulder, but he should be good to go on Wednesday night.
New Orleans Pelicans
It’s a little bit ironic that the Pelicans couldn’t overcome the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. In our Wolves-Lakers preview, we highlighted how Minnesota’s team unity imploded as the contest progressed. Furthermore, there was an opportunity to be the eighth seed rather than the ninth.
And yet, they couldn’t pull it off. Brandon Ingram can’t be blamed. He roared for 42 points. Both Trey Murphy III and CJ McCollum surpassed the 20-point plateau but were defensive liabilities with +/- differentials of -10 and -15 respectively. The Pelicans will rue their chances, as they led by 12 after the opening quarter, yet lost all the other ones by just enough points that the tide turned 113-108 in Minnesota’s favour.
OKC
NO