New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Odds, AI Picks and Analysis (April 24th)
The New Orleans Pelicans stole Game 1 on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder, defying expectations and emerging victorious 94-92. Can they protect their home court and steal another win, or will the Thunder bounce back and take a 2-0 series lead? Dive into our Pelicans vs Thunder predictions, betting insights, AI picks, and player stats to make informed wagers on this critical Game 2 of the NBA Playoffs!
Last Meeting: In a thrilling Game 1 upset, the New Orleans Pelicans stole a 94-92 victory on the road against the heavily favored Oklahoma City Thunder (favored by 9 points). Despite leading by 6 points entering the 4th quarter, the Pelicans held on for the win as the Thunder outscored them by a narrow margin (24-20) in the final frame. Notably, neither team shot well from three (both under 32%), contributing to the low-scoring 186-point total (well short of the 216.5 over/under line). Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 21 points and 5 three-pointers, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paced the Thunder with a game-high 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Betting Trends:
- Pelicans Thrive as Underdogs: New Orleans has a strong record as underdogs, going 18-15 straight-up and a surprising 21-12 against the spread. They’ll look to continue that success against the favored Thunder.
- Low-Scoring Trend: The under has hit in the Pelicans’ last three games, and today’s over/under line (210.5) is one of their lowest all season.
- Thunder Aim for Seventh Straight Win: Oklahoma City is riding a six-game winning streak and has covered the spread in their last six home games. However, they haven’t been as dominant as favorites (35-27 ATS).
Game Information
| New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Location of the Game: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City |
| Date and Time: Wednesday, April 24th 9:30 ET |
| Reason: 2024 NBA Western Conference Play-off |
| How to watch: watchlivesports.co |
AI Predictions and Sport Betting AI Picks
These are the NBA Computer Picks for tonight’s NBA Schedule game:
| TEAM | SERIES | AI PICKS | Sport Betting AI PICKS | |||
| Pelicans | 1 | 112 | 227 | SPREAD NO +7.5 |
MONEYLINE OKC -333 |
TOTAL OVER 210.5 |
| Thunder | 1 | 108 | ||||
- AI Picks: Oklahoma City Thunder 115 – New Orleans Pelicans 112
- Sport Betting AI Picks: ATS Pelicans +7.5 | ML Thunder -333 | OVER 210.5
Pelicans vs Thunder Predictions and Odds
Next, we have the NBA odds for this NBA Matchup.
New Orleans Pelicans Game Analysis
- Offensive Powerhouse: The Pelicans boast a potent offense, ranking among the league’s elite in both three-point shooting (7th at 38%) and overall field goal percentage (10th at 48%). This translates to a respectable scoring average of 115.1 points per game. CJ McCollum (averaging 17.8 points over his last five games) and Trey Murphy III (averaging 16.8 points with lights-out shooting over his last five games) have been key contributors. However, Zion Williamson will be sidelined due to a hamstring injury.
- Strong Defensive Unit: Despite the absence of Williamson, the Pelicans boast a strong defensive unit, ranking 8th in the NBA in points allowed per game (110.3). This defensive prowess is even more evident on the road, where they hold opponents to a league-leading 109.6 points per contest.
- Vulnerable Three-Point Defense: According to the NBA Team StatsWhile the Pelicans excel at overall defense, they struggle to contain opponents from beyond the arc. They allow opponents to shoot a concerning 34.9% from three-point range (24th in the league) and surrender a high volume of three-point attempts (29th in the NBA).
Injury Report:
- Zion Williamson (Hamstring – Out)
New Orleans Pelicans Game Analysis
- Offensive Juggernaut: The Thunder boast the NBA’s 3rd-ranked offense, averaging a whopping 120.1 points per game. This offensive firepower is particularly evident at home, where they rack up an impressive 122.4 points per contest. They excel in both field goal percentage and three-point shooting.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Leads the Charge: Accroding to the NBA player stats Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paces the Thunder offensively, averaging a stellar 30.1 points per game this season, along with 6.2 assists and 5.5 rebounds. While his scoring has dipped slightly over his last five games (averaging 26.4 points), his shooting remains consistent (hitting 46.3% of his shots).
- Improved Defensive Showing: While offense has been their calling card, the Thunder’s defense has shown impressive improvement. They currently rank 11th in the NBA in points allowed for the season (112.4 points per game). This defensive dominance is even more pronounced at home, where they hold opponents to a stingy 109.7 points per contest. Notably, over their last five games, they’ve been the league’s best defensive unit, allowing a mere 95.8 points per game and stifling opponents’ shooting (37.7% from the field and 28.5% from three).
- League Leaders in Steals and Blocks: Adding another layer to their defensive prowess, the Thunder lead the NBA in both steals and blocked shots per game, further solidifying their defensive identity.
- Healthy Roster: The Thunder are fortunate to have a healthy roster heading into this matchup.
Injury Report:
According to the NBA Injury Report there are no injures reported for todays match on the Pelicans side.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Head-to-Head
Recent Trends Favor the Thunder
- Home Court Advantage: The Thunder have a perfect record (3-0) in their last three home games against the Pelicans.
- Strong Against the Spread: In the previous three matchups, Oklahoma City has covered the spread twice (2-1) against New Orleans, with an average scoring margin of 11 points per game in their favor.
- Mixed Scoring Trends: While the Thunder have dominated at home recently, the last five meetings between these teams have seen varied scoring outputs. The over/under record is 1-2 in both the last three Pelicans visits to Oklahoma City and the last three matchups overall, with an average combined score of 201 points when the Thunder plays host.
Can the Thunder capitalize on their home-court advantage and historical trends to overpower the Pelicans, or will New Orleans find a way to steal another victory? Look deeper into our analysis for insights on past performance and historical matchups to inform your bets on this exciting NBA Playoffs rematch!
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