Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans Prediction, NBA Odds
Eight different Pelicans players remain on the team’s injured list but there are some status upgrades. Guard Jordan Hawkins (back), forward Brandon Ingram (ankle), and centre Yves Missi (shoulder) are all questionable for Friday’s contest — which is encouraging and really all the Pelicans can ask for at this point.
The flurry of injuries have dropped New Orleans to 4-12 on the season and 1-9 in their last 10 contests. Golden State’s 11-3 start has them atop the Western Conference, and most certainly licking their chops as the NBA’s third-highest scoring club with 119.6 points per game.
Tip-off at Smoothie King Center gets going at 7:30 p.m. EST with the Warriors -9.5 on the point spread and the over-under at 222.5 on the NBA odds.
Warriors vs. Pelicans NBA Betting Odds
When it comes to scoring, New Orleans is especially feeling the effects of their laundry-list injury report. Over the Pelicans last seven contests they’ve gone over 100 points just twice and 1-1 when doing so and 0-5 when not. The Pelicans 103.5 points per game ranks last in the NBA. Golden State has hit 120 points in four of their last five outings and are 4-0 in those games.
The Warriors are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games overall and 5-2 ATS in their last seven meetings with New Orleans. The total has gone under in 13 of the last 18 Warriors–Pelicans matchups. Golden State is already 2-0 this season against the Pelicans with 124-106 and 104-89 wins on back-to-back nights. Buddy Hield led Golden State in scoring in both wins with 28 and 21 points.
Golden State Warriors
A veteran squad like Golden State knows the task at hand Friday: play to the Warriors level and not their opponents, handle business early, and cruise on by. Upsets happen in sports but Friday’s definitely a spot for a “point night” within the Warriors roster. Three different Warriors players — Buddy Hield, Steph Curry, and Andrew Wiggins — have led Golden State in scoring in each of their last three outings and the balance of this Warriors squad should be on full display.
Curry’s 23 points per game leads the team, but five different Warriors are also above double-digit scoring this season. One was De’Anthony Melton, who is now out for the season with an ACL injury. Lindy Waters III scored 10 points on Tuesday versus Atlanta while in place of Melton’s starting spot.
New Orleans Pelicans
Jordan Hawkins, Brandon Ingram, and Yves Missi are all questionable to play Friday and the Pelicans need any of these trio back… badly. New Orleans has dropped back-to-back games this week by an average of 29.5 points and are scratching to even put up 100 points on a nightly basis. To be fair, New Orleans top six scorers were out of the lineup.
The increased minutes for non-regulars has provided an opportunity for new Pelicans to step up and rookie guard Antonio Reeves seized it on Wednesday at Cleveland. Reeves chucked up 25 shots coming off the bench and finished with a career-high 34 points. Elfrid Payton played, and started in his NBA game in over two years and finished Wednesday with a stat line of 11 points, eight assists, and five rebounds. Look out for Reeves and Payton to provide any spark.
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