New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/24/2024

Game Time: 9:30 pm ET, Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Venue:  Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK 

Where to Watch:  TNT, MAX

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Pelicans +8, Thunder -8; Over/Under:  212.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Pelicans +8, Thunder -8; Over/Under:  212.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Pelicans +8.5, Thunder -8.5; Over/Under:  212.5 points

New Orleans Pelicans:  49-33 (2nd place, Southwest Division)

Oklahoma City Thunder:  57-25 (1st place, Northwest Division)

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New Orleans Pelicans:  5-5 last 10

Oklahoma City Thunder:  7-3 last 10

The Pelicans are entering this game with a 49-33 record overall to finish the regular season and they were 28-14 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder in their last game. Trey Murphy III led the team in points in that game with 21 while CJ McCollum was next on the team with 20 points. CJ McCollum led the team in assists in that game with 6 while Jonas Valančiūnas led the team in rebounds with 20. They were 38.5% from the field, 28.2% from 3-point range, and 77.8% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 115.1 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 110.7 PPG against them. The Pelicans have an ATS record of 46-38-1 this season and their O/U record is 36-48-1.

The Thunder are entering this game with a 57-25 record overall to finish the regular season and they were 33-8 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 6 game winning streak with wins coming against the Charlotte Hornets, the Sacramento Kings, the San Antonio Spurs, the Milwaukee Bucks, the Dallas Mavericks, and the New Orleans Pelicans in their last game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team in points in that game with 28 while Jalen Williams was next on the team with 19 points. Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander each led the team in assists in that game with 4 while Chet Holmgren led the team in rebounds with 11. They were 43.5% from the field, 31.3% from 3-point range, and 76.9% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 120.1 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 112.7 PPG against them. The Thunder have an ATS record of 46-36-1 this season and their O/U record is 44-36-3.

The current betting odds have the Pelicans listed as an 8 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. This is game 2 of a 7 game series between the 1st seeded Thunder and the 8th seeded Pelicans for Round 1 of the NBA Western Conference playoffs. The Thunder have a 1-0 series lead after winning game 1 of this series on their home court. The Thunder have looked great in their games this season, winning the number 1 seed in the West with their 57-25 record overall, and they have also looked great on their home court with their 33-8 home record. They have one of the best home records in the NBA this season, but they are still an inexperienced playoff team with all of their young players and they really showed it in game 1 as they could only beat the Pelicans by 2 points. The Pelicans had to fight all week just to get to this series, losing to the Lakers in the 1st game of the play-in tournament but beating the Kings in the 2nd game to get here. The Pelicans have also been one of the best road teams in the entire NBA this season with their 28-14 road record, and even though they lost game 1 of this series, they made that 1st game really close for the Thunder. The Pelicans have some momentum from having to play in the play-in tournament all week and they have looked a lot better in their road games this year so they are going to be pushing hard to win this game and even up the series here, especially since they almost won game 1. The Thunder have been a really strong force on their home court all season but they almost lost game 1 and even if they find a way to win this game again, it is going to be really close just like game 1 was. The Thunder also don't have the playoff experience with their young team and that could be a key factor that comes back to bite them in this 2nd game. The best way to place a bet here is on the Pelicans to cover the spread in this game. 

Pelicans Thunder Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Wednesday, April 24, 2024 (9:30 pm ET start time) is Pelicans 97 Thunder 94.

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New Orleans Pelicans: 7-12 ATS after successfully covering the spread in 2 or more consecutive games. 3-10 ATS after a combined score of 205 points or less. 6-12 ATS after scoring 105 points or less. 9-5 UNDER when the total is 210 to 219.5. 30-15 UNDER after a game where they covered the spread. 14-7 UNDER revenging a close loss vs opponent of 3 points or less.

Oklahoma City Thunder: 27-15 ATS in home games. 35-20 ATS against Southwest division opponents. 28-14 ATS after allowing 100 points or less. 8-3 UNDER as a home favorite of 6.5 to 12 points. 10-5 UNDER after allowing 100 points or less. 8-4 UNDER after a win by 6 points or less.

New Orleans Pelicans:  Z. Williamson (PF) Early May - Hamstring.

Oklahoma City Thunder:  None.

“We had quality shots coming down the stretch that we just didn’t make, and it came down to the final play. Our guys fought all night. Defense was solid. Game plan was executed at a high level. We’ve got to knock down some shots.” - Willie Green after his team’s loss against the OKC Thunder in game 1 of this series on Sunday.

“I thought we showed great grit down the stretch. Obviously, that was a tight game. It was a bit of a brawl for both teams offensively. And we made plays defensively down the stretch — big time plays — and had the resolve to go in and win the game.” - Mark Daigneault after his team’s win against the Pelicans in game 1 of this series on Sunday.

PG CJ McCollum

SG Brandon Ingram

SF Trey Murphy III

PF Herbert Jones

C Jonas Valanciunas

PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

SG Josh Giddey

SF Luguentz Dort

PF Jalen Williams

C Chet Holmgren

PPG: Z. Williamson (22.9)

APG: B. Ingram (5.7)

Reb/G: J. Valanciunas (8.8)

PPG: S. Gilgeous-Alexander (30.1)

APG: S. Gilgeous-Alexander (6.2)

Reb/G: C. Holmgren (7.9)

Coaches:

New Orleans Pelicans: Willie Green (3rd season)

Oklahoma City Thunder: Mark Daigneault (4th season)