NBA New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 01-24-2019, 20:00 EDT

Spread: Oklahoma City Thunder -11.5

Total: +237.5

In this all-Western showdown, two squads coming off opposite outcomes in their latest matchups are clashing, when the New Orleans Pelicans, who are playing without their star player and looking to bounce back after their latest loss, are visiting the Oklahoma City Thunder, who want to continue on the winning ways.

Pelicans are 22-26 so far in the league and are sitting on the fourth to last place of the West. They are 1-3 in their last 4 games and in their latest matchup they got defeated by Detroit at home, 94-98. Thunder are 29-18 so far in the league and are sitting on the 3^rd place of the Western Conference. They have won their last three games and in their latest matchup they were victorious against Portland at home, 123-114.

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New Orleans are led in scoring by Anthony Davis with 29.3 ppg. He also adds 4.4 assists and leads the team in rebounding with 13.3 per game but he is injured and unavailable. Jrue Holiday follows with 21 ppg, adding 4.7 rebounds and leading the team in assists made with 8.1 per game. Julius Randle adds 19.9 ppg and 9.3 rebounds per game. Oklahoma City are led in scoring by Paul George with 27 ppg. He also adds 7.9 rebounds and 4 assists per game, while Russell Westbrook follows with 21.8 ppg and leads the team both in assists made with 10.6 and in rebounding with 10.6 per game. Dennis Schroder adds 15.4 ppg and 4.3 assists off the bench.

This will be the third meeting between those two teams so far this season and they are tied 1-1 wins. Oklahoma won at home with a 122-116 score and New Orleans at home 118-114. Oklahoma City are 15-7 at home, while New Orleans are 7-19 on the road. New Orleans have a better offense with 116.7 ppg to Oklahoma’s 114, while Oklahoma have a better defense, allowing 109.1 ppg to New Orleans’ 114.8 ppg. New Orleans have a better accuracy both from the field (48.1% to 45.7%) and from behind the arc (35.7% to 33.8%). Oklahoma on the other hand grab more rebounds (47.9 to 46.9) and New Orleans dish more assists per game (26.7 to 22.9), while both squads commit almost the same number of turnovers per game (14 to 14.2). Pelicans don’t pose a threat on the road without Davis so pick the Thunder for an easy home win tonight.

New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder -11.5 (-112)